IDF denies rumors it distributed leaflets in Gaza
Palestinians say IAF distributed thousands of leaflets in northern Strip warning residents that if they fail to halt Qassam fire within 48 hours, IDF will enter area
Palestinian sources reported Monday morning that the Israel Air Force distributed leaflets in the northern Gaza Strip, warning residents that if they failed to halt the firing of Qassam rockets, the IDF would enter the area.
Army officials denied the report, and sources in the Palestinian Authority admitted that no one actually saw the leaflets.
According to the rumors, thousands of leaflets were distributed by Israeli aircrafts overnight. The leaflets demanded that the northern Strip resident put an end to the firing of rockets from their residential area within 48 hours. If they fail to do so, the leaflet noted, the IDF would enter the northern Strip.
The IDF has been using the leaflet method for years in order to warn residents of a possible operation in their area. The leaflets are usually aimed at minimizing the number of civilians hurt exchanges of.
The IDF used leaflets during its operations in the Gaza Strip, as well as during the Second Lebanon War.
Over time, the army also began using the leaflets for psychological warfare against terror organizations. Using illustrations and cartoon, Israel tried to explain to civilians that terror organizations were damaging their routine life.
A senior member of the Islamic Jihad's military wing, which is one of the main groups responsible for the Qassam fire, told Ynet that its organization was determined to continue firing rockets in light of "the wave of assassinations in the West Bank."
After a relatively clam period, the Palestinians renewed the Qassam rocket fire from the northern Strip in the past few days. According to the Palestinians, the rockets were fired in protest of the IDF's activities in Jenin, Nablus and Gaza over the weekend, in which eight Palestinians were killed.
Hanan Greenberg contributed to the report
