- [Julie] Israel has beenbattling Palestinian rioters
and fire kites and balloonsalong the Gaza border
since the launch of the so-called
Great March of Return in March.
The six-month old frictionpeaked in May and June
but since last month,
the number of Palestinianrioters attacking
the Israeli border surged.
The protests have gonefrom weekly to daily,
with up to 20,000 rioters taking part.
At a joint press conference
with visiting GermanChancellor Angela Merkel,
Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu said
there are two reasons forthe trouble with Hamas.
- First of all, here is of course,
the permanent effortby Hamas to arm itself
(bombs exploding)
- [Julie] The IDF releasedthis footage earlier showing
its detonation of explosivethat Palestinians hurled
or planted along the Gaza border.
The IDF said it's now moving
additional troops into the area.
Netanyahu said Hamas isalso attacking Israel
because Palestinian authority
President Mahmoud Abbas cut funds to Gaza.
- Though last year, AbuMazen has made the situation
in Gaza more difficult bychoking off the flow of funds
from the Palestinian authority to Gaza.
As a result of this choke hold,
pressures have been created there.
And as a result of thepressures, from time-to-time,
Hamas attacks Israel at arelatively low intensity,
but the choke hold is tightening.
- [Julie] Hamas leaders saythey are ramping up riots
to get Israel to accept a ceasefire.
But experts say Hamas wants a truce
to allow the flow of goods into Gaza,
to continue to build upits terror infrastructure
and then hit Israelwhen the time is right.
It's a tactic the terrorgroup has used in the past.
Netanyahu's message was clear.
- Hamas thinks that asa result of this plight
it can attack Israel.
It will be making a very major mistake.
Our response will be harsh, very harsh.
I hope that it is possibleto halt this strangulation,
but I also reiterate that Israel will act
with all necessary strength
to defend itself and its citizens.
- [Julie] Julie Stahl,CBN News, Jerusalem.
