I don’t know the provenance of this footage, which claims to show Hamas forces passing through the unarmed Gaza security barrier last Saturday; but who is the fair-haired white man in the Ray-Bans carrying an assault rifle and directing the motorcyclists in the Hamas headscarves?
One thing’s certain, he isn’t Palestinian. By his uniform, he could be Israeli police. Or is he CIA? Where do we recognise that buzz-cut, gum-chewing strut from? Why is he walking past ‘terrorists’ towards Gaza? Why did he wave at them? What’s he doing there? And where’s the IDF?
0:29 White man waves at ‘elite’ Hamas soldier struggling to get his bike over the ramp.
0:41 White man gestures to motorcyclist and shouts something (‘Here’?)
0:42 White man passes by motorcyclist.
0:46 White man continues to help other motorcyclists passing through the fence.
0:41 White man gestures to motorcyclist and shouts something (‘Here’?)
0:42 White man passes by motorcyclist.
0:46 White man continues to help other motorcyclists passing through the fence.
Here are stills from more footage. In the foreground, motorcyclists cross into no-man’s land. The border fence is open. Beyond is the second fence equipped with motion sensors. On the hill is a watchtower with radar, cameras and remote-control arms. None appear to be operating.
In the next shot, the motorcyclists pass through a hole cut in what looks like the second fence. Either side of the gap stand men who, in contrast to the motorcyclists, appear to be dressed in military uniforms and flak jackets similar to those worn by the Israel Defense Forces.
In contrast, this is what the so-called ‘elite’ Hamas militants are wearing in the GoPro footage: flak jackets over short-sleeved white shirts, combat trousers and trainers, with distinctive, bright-green Hamas scarves wrapped around their heads.
It’s always difficult to derive conclusions from images whose provenance is unknown and whose quality is poor, but who thinks that the men standing at the gaps cut into the Gaza security barrier are Palestinians or members of Hamas? And if they aren’t, then who are they?
It would help if speakers of Arabic or Hebrew tell us what is being said, what is written on this man’s uniform, and whether he is speaking either language. But if he does say ‘Here!’, we might ask what nationality speaks English no matter where they are, even on the Gaza border?
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