By Ryan Jones
Sep 07, 2005
As predicted by numerous sources, a Palestinian Arab mob attempted to march on an abandoned Jewish community in southern Gaza Tuesday and overwhelm the small IDF garrison stationed there.
More than 100 ?Palestinian? youths cut through the security fence of Neve Dekalim after participating in an hours-long ?victory? march in nearby Khan Yunis.
Israeli security officials repeatedly urged their Palestinian Authority counterparts to not allow the demonstrators to approach Neve Dekalim, but their warnings were not heeded.
The youths were allowed to set upon the IDF soldiers and tanks guarding the rubble of what was once a thriving Jewish town. They reportedly planted green Hamas flags throughout the former community.
As clashes grew more intense, and PA security forces refused to intervene, Israeli soldiers opened fire to disperse the mob. One ?Palestinian? was killed and several others were wounded.
Later, the PA and the media outlets it controls claimed the youths were merely playing soccer near Neve Dekalim when IDF forces opened fire for no apparent reason.
Photographs appearing in the mainstream press proved otherwise.
One security official told The Jerusalem Post the incident was obviously not a spontaneous act, evidenced by the prearranged presence of photojournalists.
?It was an act of clear provocation,? he said.
Another official recalled that ?the PA informed Israel that it would be responsible for thwarting such incidents.?
The Sharon government insisted such violations by the ?Palestinians? would not delay the completion of Israel?s withdrawal from Gaza.
Earlier Wednesday the cabinet decided to order the IDF out of Gaza on Sunday, three days earlier than scheduled.
The military is expected to finally be out of the strip 24 hours later.