Palestinians at the border fence have burnt tires, thrown rocks in recent days. Two Palestinians were recently arrested trying to infiltrate the border. The violence has also marked a return of incendiary and explosive balloons being released over the border from the northern Gaza Strip.

The Israeli Defense Forces have responded with riot control measures, but also launched an air strike on a pair of Hamas military posts in retaliation.

The balloons have sparked numerous fires destroying large swaths of land.

Shaike Shaked, a farmer from Netiv HaAsara, near the Gaza border, told the Tazpit Press Service said he sprang into action as soon as he saw smoke in the area of the adjacent Kibbut Kissufim on Sunday.

“Right away I ran over to make sure the pathway is clear and the window is closed. In the farm, the workers are briefed in to stay close to the fence,” Shaked said.

“We’ve seen too many times that kind of events escalating very quickly to rockets,” he added.

“We have so much experience now with the arson balloons from previous years; I know exactly how the changing wind directions may bring those balloons to my side.” Shaked noted. “During the night and up until around 8 a.m., the wind blows to my direction, and after that, it changes to blow towards southeast, so early in the morning I am up, standing ready to respond, if necessary, till I see that my crop is safe.”

Shaked also told TPS that because some of his fields are especially close to the Gaza border fence, they can only be reached through a special gate for Israeli agricultural workers which is located at the Erez border crossing. The crossing is also where thousands of Palestinians with work permits normally enter Israel.

The Israeli Defense Ministry closed the Erez crossing as the situation escalated. Shaked said the closure also means Israeli farmers can’t reach their fields closest to the border.

“As soon as I see that kind of stuff, I immediately reduce the activity on that side – I have got almost half a dunam of crops there – and it’s impossible to work on it because of the blockage, so I’ll make sure to take care of the crops as soon as possible now, and if there’s an escalation, I’ll be good,” he explained.

Meanwhile, Israeli forestry officials are reinforcing firefighting crews in the area around the Gaza border.

Danny Ben-David the manager of the Western Negev region of the Keren Kayemet LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF), told TPS, “In light of the situation, JNF will increase the firefighting teams and firemen in the area surrounding Gaza Strip. We will continue to reinforce the area in order to protect the forest and the residents as there’s development.”

The KKL-JNF is a non-profit organization that specializes in the developing Israeli land, especially planting trees.

The riots and terror balloons are believed to be Hamas’s form of pressure on Israel and Qatar. TPS reported that Hamas offered to end the violence in exchange for Israeli reopening the border crossings and Qatar renewing financial aid. Qatar notified Hamas in mid-September it did not intend to renew its monthly aid package of $30 million.

Image - Hassan Jedi/Flash90