Hamas on Tuesday strongly condemned Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman for saying that an Israeli sniper who shot at a demonstrator during clashes between IDF forces and Hamas marchers on the Gaza border last weekend deserved a citation.
Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said that Liberman's remarks were tantamount to "legitimizing and formally recognizing responsibility for the crimes in which defenseless civilians were murdered."
Barhoum added that the statement "reflects the extent of the terrorism to which the Palestinian people are subjected" and called for the leadership of the "occupation" to be put on trial in order to put an end to these "crimes."
Tensions along the Israel-Gaza border have worsened in recent weeks, following the beginning of six weeks of violent demonstrations and attempted infiltrations into Israel along the Gaza security fence.
On March 30, rioters kicked off the “March of the Return” demonstrations, which drew tens of thousands in clashes with IDF forces along the border.
According to the Palestinian Arabs, 33 people have been killed by IDF fire and 3,000 were injured during the protest marches.
Hamas has encouraged the protests. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on Monday called on Gazans to keep them up, saying, "Gaza enters a new stage of peaceful and popular resistance.”
On Sunday, the organizers of the riots announced that another “popular day of rage” will be held this Friday which will be marked by the burning of the Israeli flag and the raising of Palestinian Arab flags.
They added that the processions will continue for many months, and that the confrontation with the "occupation" will continue and escalate until the "Palestinian people" realize its goals.