Israel will take measures to protect southern communities from anti-tank fire

Israel will build a protective wall to shield communities and the trains traveling close to the border with the Gaza Strip, Channel 12 reported on Monday.

The move came following the deadly round of fighting in early May when 68 year-old Moshe Feder was killed after a Kornet anti-tank missile fired by Hamas struck his car near the Erez Kibbutz.

Several hours after the attack the IDF acknowledged that it had failed to recognize the risks posed to cars driving on roads near the Gaza border.

According to the report, several kilometers of roads near the border will be obscured from view of potential attackers by three-meter high walls, ramps and trees.

A community believed to be at risk of anti-tank fire will also be protected by similar walls and a new road will be built because of the fear that the entrance to the community is a target for terror group in the Strip.

The construction of the new defensive measures was agreed to by representatives of the Defense, Finance and Transportation ministries who met on Monday at the Prime Minister’s Office on Monday.

It is expected to cost NIS 100 million and begin once the new government is formed in two weeks.

The report came as the IDF is preparing for thousands of Gazans to protest on Wednesday for the annual commemoration of Nakba Day. The organizing committee of the weekly Great March of Return protest in Gaza has called for a general strike on Wednesday, calling on Gazans to join marches along the border with Israel.

Nakba day comes a week after a two-day escalation of hostilities between Israel and terror groups in the Strip saw close to 700 rockets fired by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, killing four Israeli civilians. Israel struck hundreds of targets in the coastal enclave in retaliation, killing 25 Palestinians.

On Saturday senior Islamic Jihad figure in the Gaza Strip Khaled al-Batash threatened Israel with another round of violence if Israel fails to commit itself to the ceasefire understandings, warning that “if Israel does not fulfill its side of the agreement, the resistance has the means to force it to. We will continue to defend our people until the implementation of the understandings.”

On Monday night the US embassy in Israel issued a security alert urging all American citizens in Israel to exercise caution and avoid travelling to areas affected by rocket fire.

“Terrorist groups may choose the anniversary, which coincides with the Eurovision Song Contest in Tel Aviv and Nakba Day, to conduct violent protests or an attack,” said an embassy statement, adding that “security incidents can occur well beyond Gaza and at any time” so US government personnel and their family members may be restricted from traveling to areas affected by rocket activity, sirens, and/or the opening of bomb shelters.”

“As security incidents, including rocket fire, often take place without warning, US citizens are strongly encouraged to remain vigilant and take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness,” the statement added. “In the event of mortar and/or rocket fire, a Red Alert siren may be activated. Treat all such alerts as real; follow the instructions from local authorities and seek shelter immediately.”

The border protests began last March and has seen over half a million people violently demonstrating along the security fence with Israel demanding an end to the 12-year long blockade, congregating at points along the border range between several thousand to 45,000 each day.