The Israel Air Force dropped 520,000 fliers, in two versions with two different messages, over Gaza Thursday. The fliers may signal that Israel is preparing a large-scale retaliation for Thursday's mortar fire on Israeli targets.
A first batch of fliers warned residents to keep clear of the security barrier between them and Israel and to maintain at least a 300 meter distance from it. They included maps of areas in southern, central and northern Gaza where the population resides near the fence with Israel, showing what zones not to venture into. “Anyone who goes near [the fence] puts himself in danger,” they said.
The residents were also told to take safety precautions in case Israel decides to retaliate for mortar fire against it.
The second batch of fliers warned residents not to cooperate with people who dig tunnels into Israel and smuggle weapons through them. “The tunnel owners and the weapon smugglers are a danger to the residents of Gaza and to your children,” they said. “Do not sit idly while terror elements use you. Take responsibility for your future.”
The IDF said that the large number of fliers dropped was intended to make sure that they would reach all of the Arab communities near the border with Israel. The IAF's 1960s-era Skyhawk jets, once its prized jet fighters, were used for the drops.