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href="https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/maureen-clare-murphy/israeli-defense-minister-wants-war-keep-gaza-under-siege">https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/maureen-clare-murphy/israeli-defense-minister-wants-war-keep-gaza-under-siege</a></font>
<h1 class="reader-title">Israeli defense minister wants war to
keep Gaza under siege</h1>
<p class="node__submitted">
<span class="field field-author"><a
href="https://electronicintifada.net/people/maureen-clare-murphy">Maureen
Clare Murphy</a></span> <span class="field field-blog">-
</span><span class="field field-publication-date"><span
class="date-display-single"
content="2018-10-17T14:05:03+00:00">17 October 2018</span></span>
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<div class="content">
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<article>
<figure id="file-70496"><source media="(min-width:
72rem)"><figcaption><small><span></span></small></figcaption></figure>
<p>Israel must launch another war on Gaza to enforce its
blockade on the territory, defense minister Avigdor
Lieberman <a
href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/signaling-war-liberman-urges-cabinet-to-okay-serious-blow-to-hamas-in-gaza/">told
reporters</a> on Tuesday.</p>
<p>Lieberman’s comments came the day before Israel
launched a series of airstrikes in retaliation for a
rocket fired from Gaza that badly damaged a house in
the city of Beersheba.</p>
<p>Lieberman also ordered the closing of crossings
between Gaza and Israel and reduced the permitted
fishing zone off of Gaza’s coast to three nautical
miles – decisions <a
href="https://twitter.com/Gisha_Access/status/1052470305938124807">described</a>
by the human rights group Gisha as “deliberate
punishment of the residents of Gaza for no fault of
their own.”</p>
<p>The health ministry in Gaza said that one Palestinian
was killed as a result of an airstrike in the north of
the territory. Three others were reported injured in
Israeli attacks in Gaza’s southern and central
districts.</p>
<p>The Israeli air force <a
href="http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=781492">published
a video</a> showing the moment when Naji Muhammad
al-Zaanin, 25, was killed in northern Gaza:</p>
<p>The military claimed that the video shows it striking
at a squad attempting to launch rockets into Israel.</p>
<p>Hamas and Islamic Jihad, two Palestinian resistance
factions, <a
href="https://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Hamas-and-Islamic-Jihad-deny-responsibility-for-rocket-attack-569597">denied</a>
any involvement in the rocket fire, which they said
aimed to torpedo ongoing international efforts to
broker a long-term ceasefire with Israel in exchange
for the lifting of the siege on Gaza.</p>
<p>But as factions in Gaza have continued to seek a
negotiated way out, Israeli leaders continue to beat
war drums.</p>
<p>“When Hamas says that it’s going to continue rioting
on the border until there’s an end to the blockade, we
need to accept that as it is, without
interpretations,” Lieberman stated during a Tuesday
press conference at Re’im military base, located to
the east of the Gaza Strip.</p>
<p>Lieberman ordered a halt to fuel deliveries to Gaza
on Friday after several Palestinians crossed into
Israel from Gaza during protests.</p>
<p>On Saturday he <a
href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-israeli-security-officials-oppose-defense-chief-s-decision-to-cut-gaza-fuel-transfer-1.6552576">stated</a>
that “As long as the violence doesn’t come to a
complete stop in the Gaza Strip, including the
dispatch of incendiary balloons and burning tires
across from Israeli settlements, there will be no
renewal of fuel and gas deliveries to the Gaza Strip.”</p>
<p>The United Nations has been mediating efforts to
ensure the delivery of fuel to stave off a collapse of
essential services in Gaza, with several trucks of
Qatari-funded fuel <a
href="https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/maureen-clare-murphy/israeli-soldier-executed-gaza-teen-close-range-witness">delivered
to the Strip last week</a>.</p>
<p>“Since we’ve allowed the United Nations to bring fuel
[into Gaza], we have only gotten high-profile
violence,” Lieberman said on Tuesday, insisting that
lifting the economic blockade, now in its 11th year,
“has one meaning … allowing Hizballah members and
Iranians into Gaza.”</p>
<p>He <a
href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/defense-chief-israel-must-deal-hamas-a-blow-even-if-it-means-war-1.6567325">called
on</a> Israel’s security cabinet to “land a strong
blow” against Hamas – even if it risks a “wide-scale
confrontation” – to crush mass protests held along
Gaza’s eastern boundary over the past six months.</p>
<p>The primary call of the Great March of Return
protests has been to end to Israel’s siege and support
Palestinian refugees’ right to return to the lands now
inside Israel from which their families were expelled.</p>
<p>Every two in three Palestinians in Gaza, which has a
population of around two million, is a registered
refugee.</p>
<p>Israel’s blockade has thrust Gaza’s population into
poverty and the United Nations has <a
href="https://news.un.org/en/story/2017/07/561302-living-conditions-gaza-more-and-more-wretched-over-past-decade-un-finds">repeatedly
warned</a> that the Strip will become an “unlivable
place” by the year 2020 if underlying conditions
aren’t reversed.</p>
<p>The International Committee of the Red Cross has <a
href="https://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/update/palestine-update-140610.htm">affirmed</a>
that the siege “constitutes a collective punishment
imposed in clear violation of Israel’s obligations
under international humanitarian law.”</p>
<p>“To me, there’s only one formula: reconstruction in
return for disarmament,” Lieberman <a
href="https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5372191,00.html">stated</a>
Tuesday.</p>
<p>If his view prevails – in which resistance groups in
Gaza must in effect surrender in exchange for basic
humanitarian needs to be met – then the chances of a
durable truce would appear slim.</p>
<h2>Netanyahu’s threats</h2>
<p>Lieberman’s comments on Tuesday echoed <a
href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/netanyahu-threatens-hamas-israel-is-close-to-a-very-painful-response-1.6553403">threats
made</a> by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu days earlier.</p>
<p>“If they don’t stop the attacks against us, they will
be stopped in a different way and it will be painful –
very painful,” Netanyahu said of Hamas during a
security cabinet meeting on Sunday.</p>
<p>“We are very close to a different kind of activity,
an activity that will include very powerful blows. If
it has sense, Hamas will stop firing and stop these
violent disturbances, now.”</p>
<p>Israeli media have reported that defense officials
have told the security cabinet that a large-scale
confrontation in Gaza is not necessary. But soldiers
deployed along the Gaza perimeter are being commanded
to “respond more forcefully” to protesters this coming
Friday.</p>
<p>A senior military official told the Israeli daily <em>Haaretz</em>
that a major operation in Gaza, where health and water
and sanitation infrastructure are on the verge of
collapse, would lead to a humanitarian catastrophe.
This would make it impossible for Israel “to fight
without being barraged by international criticism,”
according to the newspaper.</p>
<p>Israel’s army <a
href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/defense-chief-israel-must-deal-hamas-a-blow-even-if-it-means-war-1.6567325">wants
to hold off</a> on a major military confrontation
until the end of next year, when the building of
infrastructure intended to thwart tunnels underneath
the Gaza boundary is due to be completed.</p>
<figure id="file-70461"><source media="(min-width:
72rem)"><figcaption><small><span></span></small></figcaption></figure>
<p>More than 160 Palestinians have been killed during
the Great March of Return protests, including 33
children.</p>
<p>On Tuesday Gaza’s health ministry <a
href="http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=781487">announced</a>
that Saddam Abu Shalash, 27, died from injuries
sustained during protests north of Beit Lahia one day
earlier.</p>
<p>More than 30 Palestinians were injured by live
ammunition fired by Israeli forces during Monday’s
protest.</p>
<p>Demonstrators <a
href="http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=781475">cut
through</a> the boundary fence at Israel’s Zikim
beach and raised a Palestinian flag over it on Monday.</p>
<p>Palestinian media also reported that protesters cut
through the boundary fence east of Deir al-Balah in
the central Gaza Strip on Tuesday:</p>
<div id="file-70466">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<div dir="rtl" lang="ar">
<p>شبان يقصون السلك الشائك مع الأراضي المحتلة
شرق دير البلح اليوم رغم استهدافهم من قبل قوات
الاحتلال.</p>
<p>تصوير: فادي ثابت <a
href="https://t.co/RibguMF0Rc">pic.twitter.com/RibguMF0Rc</a></p>
</div>
— شبكة قدس الإخبارية (@qudsn) <a
href="https://twitter.com/qudsn/status/1052253151963824128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October
16, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<p>Explosives were used to blow open a gate at the
boundary fence at the same location:</p>
<div id="file-70471">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">— شبكة قدس الإخبارية
(@qudsn) <a
href="https://twitter.com/qudsn/status/1052260124696473605?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October
16, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<div id="file-70476">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">— شبكة قدس الإخبارية
(@qudsn) <a
href="https://twitter.com/qudsn/status/1052231026909569024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October
16, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<p>Prior to the strikes early Wednesday, Israeli
warplanes repeatedly fired on Gaza <a
href="http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=781460">this
week</a>, the army <a
href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/defense-chief-israel-must-deal-hamas-a-blow-even-if-it-means-war-1.6567325">claiming</a>
it was responding to groups planting explosive devices
along the boundary and <a
href="http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=781478">launching
flaming kites</a> into Israel.</p>
<p>The Israeli military <a
href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-israeli-security-officials-oppose-defense-chief-s-decision-to-cut-gaza-fuel-transfer-1.6552576">confirmed</a>
that snipers shot a Palestinian at point-blank range <a
href="https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/maureen-clare-murphy/israeli-soldier-executed-gaza-teen-close-range-witness">during
protests last Friday</a> after several demonstrators
approached the boundary fence under the cover of smoke
from burning tires and set off an explosion that made
a hole in the fence.</p>
<p>Paratroopers fired shots toward the group of
protesters, dispersing all but three who moved towards
a snipers’ position.</p>
<p>“Two of them were shot immediately and the third
Palestinian reached the sandy mound where the snipers
were positioned,” <em>Haaretz</em> reported. “The
[military] investigation describes how one of them
shot him from point blank range and that a knife was
found on his body.”</p>
<h2>Palestinian killed in West Bank</h2>
<p>Meanwhile Israeli soldiers <a
href="http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=781468">shot
and killed</a> a Palestinian man in the occupied
West Bank on Monday.</p>
<p>The military claimed that Elias Yassin, 22, was
attempting a stabbing attack when soldiers opened fire
on him in the Barkan industrial settlement, where two
Israelis were <a
href="https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/maureen-clare-murphy/israel-arrests-siblings-alleged-settlement-shooter">killed
earlier in the month</a> by a Palestinian coworker
who remains at large.</p>
<p>No Israelis were injured in Monday’s incident.</p>
<p>Seven Israelis and eight Palestinian assailants and
alleged assailants have been killed in the context of
alleged attacks since the beginning of the year.</p>
<p>On Tuesday Israeli occupation forces <a
href="http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=781479">raided</a>
the home of Yassin’s family in the village of Bidya in
the northern West Bank.</p>
<p>Bidya is also the place of residence of Ayesha
Muhammad al-Rabi, who died after suspected Israeli
settlers stoned the car in which she and her family
were traveling last Friday.</p>
<p>Israel’s domestic intelligence apparatus has
reportedly launched an investigation into the woman’s
slaying, though a gag order has been placed on the
probe.</p>
<p>Al-Rabi’s death was condemned by US officials as well
as Nickolay Mladenov, the UN’s Middle East envoy.</p>
<div id="file-70481">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">My thoughts & prayers
are with Mrs. Aysha al-Rabi’s 8 children &
husband. Mrs. al-Rabi was killed when her car
was struck by a stone thrown onto the roadway.
An investigation into this reprehensible act is
ongoing.</p>
— Jason D. Greenblatt (@jdgreenblatt45) <a
href="https://twitter.com/jdgreenblatt45/status/1051851511993720833?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October
15, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<div id="file-70486">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I condemn this Friday’s
attack in the <a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WestBank?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WestBank</a>
in which a <a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Palestinian?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Palestinian</a>
woman was killed and her husband injured by
stones allegedly thrown by <a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Israeli?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Israeli</a>
assailants. Those responsible must be swiftly
brought to justice. I urge all to stand up to
violence and terror.</p>
— Nickolay E. MLADENOV (@nmladenov) <a
href="https://twitter.com/nmladenov/status/1051387967443542016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October
14, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<div id="file-70491">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">UN Envoy <a
href="https://twitter.com/nmladenov?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nmladenov</a>
condemns Friday's attack in <a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WestBank?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WestBank</a>
in which <a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Palestine?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Palestine</a>
woman, <a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AishaAlRabi?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AishaAlRabi</a>,
was killed by stones allegedly thrown by Israeli
assailants. Notes that an investigation was
initiated & calls on <a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Israel?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Israel</a>
2 ensure that those responsible r swiftly
brought 2 justice <a
href="https://t.co/czdiTVfFxB">pic.twitter.com/czdiTVfFxB</a></p>
— UNSCO (@UNSCO_MEPP) <a
href="https://twitter.com/UNSCO_MEPP/status/1051390762682933248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October
14, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<p>Israeli tourism minister Yariv Levin, however, <a
href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-envoy-calls-rock-attack-that-killed-palestinian-woman-reprehensible/">described</a>
the slaying of the mother of eight as a “scrap of an
incident” and pointed to what he called the hypocrisy
of those who condemned it.</p>
<p>“Terror incidents of stone throwing happen every day;
not only don’t they condemn the matter, they give the
feeling that it is okay because we are ‘occupiers,’”
Levin stated.</p>
<p>“It is quite galling that it takes an incident like
this in relation to a Palestinian vehicle for it
[stone throwing] to be raised on the agenda.”</p>
<p>The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs <a
href="https://www.ochaopt.org/content/protection-civilians-report-11-24-september-2018">recently
said</a> that settler violence was on the rise since
the beginning of the year, “with a weekly average of
five attacks resulting in injuries or property damage,
compared with an average of three in 2017 and two in
2016.”</p>
<p>The day before al-Rabi was killed, the Israeli human
rights group Yesh Din <a
href="https://www.facebook.com/yeshdin/videos/280001242633150/">published
video</a> of settlers from <a
href="https://electronicintifada.net/tags/yitzhar">Yitzhar</a>
stoning Palestinian cars on a road near the
Palestinian village of Burin in the northern West Bank
as soldiers looked on without intervening.</p>
<p>That incident took place about four miles north of
the Zaatara checkpoint where al-Rabi’s car was stoned.</p>
<br>
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