The Israeli army has deployed tanks at the border with Gaza following an escalation of violence by Palestinian protesters.
Residents in southern Israel spotted the tanks being transported with one witness saying around 60 tanks and armoured personnel carriers are situated near the border.
Meanwhile, the routine on the Gaza border involves more IDF armored vehicles, tanks & arillery, making their way to the area… pic.twitter.com/OGeGHBINul
— Daniel Tsemach (@DanielTsemach) October 18, 2018
#BREAKIG: Very large columns of IDF tanks begin to amass near Gaza Via @bokeralmog pic.twitter.com/8svIjdAGg3
— ELINT News (@ELINTNews) October 18, 2018
With the deployment clearly visible from main Israeli roads near the Gaza Strip, senior Egyptian security officials met Palestinian leaders of the enclave’s ruling Hamas to try to calm tensions.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who convened his security cabinet on Wednesday after the rocket wrecked a home in the city of Beersheba, pledged to take “very strong action” if Palestinian attacks continued.
During the meeting, Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman presented a plan to initiate a harsh response against Hamas. At the same time, the IDF, with the encouragement of Netanyahu, presented another plan whereby response would be according to what was happening on the ground and only if the terrorist organizations tried to attack Israel. The Prime Minister’s proposal was adopted.
Israeli leaders have said they will not tolerate rocket attacks or attempts, during the border protests, to breach Israel’s frontier fence.
Israel Deploys Several Merkava IV Tanks And Other Military Vehicles Near Gaza Border 🎥 https://t.co/kHWB8jWu7B pic.twitter.com/KstFMDcHiE
— Already Happened (@M3t4_tr0n) October 18, 2018
