Balloons tied to explosive device land near Gaza border kindergarten
With Hamas threatening new violence on the Gaza border and IDF bolstering troop presence, Palestinians resume practice of sending airborne incendiary devices into Israel.
The police were called to the scene to neutralize the device.
The incidents occurs after many weeks during which there were no reports of incendiary balloons launched from Gaza.
Meanwhile, the IDF is preparing for a tense weekend on the Gaza border, sending reinforcements in order to prevent the potential infiltration by Palestinian rioters into Israeli territory. The move comes following an announcement by the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip that Friday is a "test day."
The IDF believes that there will be riots at the fence as Palestinians mark a week since four protesters were killed on the border. The army will therefore increase the amount of troops and aerial observation around certain points of friction.
Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories for the Gaza Strip Col. Iyad Sarhan issued a social media appeal to residents of the Gaza Strip on Thursday, and warned them not to take part in terrorist attacks on the border fence with Israel.
"Residents of Gaza, what do you want from your upcoming Friday?" said Sarhan in a video message in Arabic that was posted on Facebook. "Do you want to spend it in the bosom of your family or in unpleasant incidents on the security fence? The IDF will not tolerate any attacks on the security fence. We also want a Friday without any casualties on your side, but that depends solely on you."
He added: "The IDF will not allow rioters to approach or damage the security fence, and any attempt to harm IDF soldiers or violate Israeli sovereignty will be met with a strong IDF response. Keep your distance from the area of the fence, and you will be quite safe. "
The organizers of the "March of Return" campaign called on the Palestinians to attend in scores the Gaza border riots.
Hamas has previously prevented protesters from reaching the fence and causing violent incidents, but last week showed that a low level of restraint easily leads to greater violence.
