IDF Amasses Large Forces on Gaza Border

The Fellowship | October 19, 2018

ISRAEL-PALESTINIAN-CONFLICT-GAZA — Israeli Merkava tanks are stationed in an open area near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip on October 19, 2018, after Gaza's Islamist rulers Hamas pledged to launch an investigation into rocket fire at Israel earlier this week, in an apparent bid to calm fears of a new war. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP) (Photo credit should read JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images)

After rockets were launched into Israel from Gaza this week, and with Israel expecting continued rioting on her border with Gaza, tensions are high. Ynet News’ Itay Blumenthal and Elior Levy report that the Israeli military is prepared for any violence, having gathered a large force of tanks, artillery, and infantry on the Gaza border:

The IDF started ramping up its armored forces along the Gaza border on Thursday in a daylight show of force following a Security Cabinet decision to escalate retaliation for any violent incidents originating in the strip.

Among the forces that amassed at the border were dozens of tanks, artillery, infantry APCs and engineering vehicles.

In addition, flight routes at Ben-Gurion Airport were changed Thursday due to the security situation. The Israel Airport Authority stressed, however, that the change “doesn’t affect flights schedule.”

Israelis living in communities by the border fence say they have not seen such a significant concentration of IDF forces in the area in years.

“It only looked like this during Operation Protective Edge or several years ago when there were tensions. It feels like something is about to happen, or they want to send a message to Hamas to beware,” one resident said…