IDF: Hamas planning Monday ‘massacre’ of Israelis, over 100,000 rioters expected

The IDF issued a stark warning about the culmination of the Hamas terror group’s “March of Return,” which is arriving a day earlier than planned.

By: World Israel News Staff

In anticipation of violence and mayhem planned by the Hamas terror group to coincide with the opening of the US embassy in Jerusalem, the IDF projected that the number of Palestinian rioters on Monday could reach 100,000, with hundreds potentially attempting to breach the border fence and attack nearby towns within Israel.

The IDF’s warnings included reference to the potential for an attempted “massacre” of Israeli civilians, as the Palestinian street prepares for the unbridled rioting that generally accompanies “Nakba Day” on May 15, which is the Palestinians’ version of Israel’s Independence Day, invoking the Arabic word for catastrophe.

Military intelligence indicates, however, that Hamas won’t wait the extra day and will instead push up the violence to May 14 to coincide with Monday’s US Embassy move in an attempt to attract more international attention.

The Israeli military and police are prepared for a number of scenarios, including chaotic attacks staged by groups of rioters breaking through the security barrier, mass arson and property damage, and direct armed attacks on troops by Hamas commandos. The IDF is also on guard against attempts to kidnap soldiers.

In the video below, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit warns that Hamas seeks to “torch farmland,” as it has already done with arson kites in recent days, and murder “innocent men, women, and children.”

“The IDF’s preparation includes the additional deployment of a number of combat battalions to the Gaza border, special forces, intelligence collection units, and snipers. In addition, the Central Command will also receive additional combat battalions and intelligence collection teams as reinforcement,” announced the army on Sunday. To that end, additional troops were deployed to Israeli communities close to the Gaza border.

It has been suggested that Hamas seeks sufficient violence to distract Gazans from the terror group’s utter failure to effectively govern the coastal enclave, while avoiding full-blown war with Israel, which would be disastrous for Hamas.

In recent weeks, for instance, Hamas has directed rioters to not only destroy Israeli property, but has also ordered the destruction of humanitarian infrastructure, such as the Kerem Shalom crossing (through which medical supplies enter Gaza) and major gas pipelines running into the Strip.

Hamas’ health ministry claims that about 50 Palestinians have been killed during the riots, with Israel identifying a significant number of the casualties as Hamas operatives.