IDF Unsure Whether Riots A Palestinian ‘Day Of Rage’ Or Just Thursday

The intensity of the violence provided no clear indication.

Kibbutz Zikkim, Gaza Envelope, November 12 – Israeli soldiers patrolling the fence between this southern region and the Gaza Strip expressed uncertainty today in response to a reporter’s question as to the nature of disturbances on the other side of the barrier: have Palestinian factions announced a special reason for the violent demonstrations today, or is it just that time of the week?

Officers and enlisted men near the protective barrier between the Hamas-ruled coastal territory and the mostly rural communities of the Gaza Envelope admitted their inability today to determine whether the firebomb-throwing, incendiary-balloon-launching, fence-breach-attempting gathering just beyond said fence represents a Palestinian “Day of Rage” demonstration in response to some development the Palestinian leadership finds objectionable, or simply that today is Thursday. The intensity of the violence provided no clear indication, an officer stated.

“It could be the aftermath of the US presidential election; it could be the death of Saeb Erekat; we’re not sure,” explained Lt. Col. Lemmi Ikhpat of the IDF’s Gaza Division. “It could even be a delayed response to our destroying another terrorism tunnel a couple of weeks ago. Or it could just be because it’s Thursday. These things don’t always have an apparent reason.”

Palestinian sources themselves offered little guidance on the question. “Uh, I guess today’s a Day of Rage?” wondered rioter Ibrahim Mousa, 22, preparing to launch a bunch of helium balloons attached to an incendiary device, which he said he hoped would hit an Israeli day care center. “It’s Thursday, which means… you know, I’ve lost track. Hey, Muhammad! Is today supposed to be a Day of Rage? OK, cool, what’s our official reason this time? No, no, it doesn’t make a difference, I just like to know. Huh. Is that so? So apparently some of us are upset over Erekat, but others refuse to acknowledge that Fatah scum, so they’re going with whatever. We can call it a Day of Rage. Haven’t had one of those in almost a week. Must be time for one.”

News organizations expressed similar ambivalence over whether today’s skirmishes constitute an official Day of Rage. “Doesn’t really matter,” admitted BBC correspondent Ann Tysemitt. “A given pretext for Palestinian violence isn’t really necessary for us to follow our modus operandi of refraining from mention of Palestinian violence not in the context of an Israeli response, of course making the response the main point of the report and not what prompted it.”

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