Skip to main content

Gaza rockets embarrass Netanyahu, Hamas leadership

The Israeli security system has come to the conclusion that the escalation of the past few days on the Gaza border means one thing: It is now the Hamas military wing that is calling the shots, not the Hamas political leadership.
RTS2Q0T0.jpg
Read in 

Israeli media dealt extensively this week with the great embarrassment Hamas caused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when sirens warning of incoming rockets pierced the air as he addressed a packed election rally Sept. 10 in the city of Ashdod. His bodyguards immediately hustled him off the stage and took him to a sheltered area, even as “Mr. Security” Netanyahu asked, in reference to the audience cheering him, “And where are they supposed to go?” Several minutes later he returned to the stage and resumed his speech. He later wrote on Facebook: “Tremendous support in Ashdod. Vote Likud to prevent a government of the left and the Arabs!” The entire embarrassing incident was aired live on his Facebook page, but was subsequently deleted.

After the event, Netanyahu convened the heads of the nation’s security agencies at the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv, and his office distributed a  photo of the meeting. After all, an unprovoked rocket attack on Ashdod for no discernible reason during a Netanyahu election rally in town merits photographic evidence proving to the public that all is well — a type of response to the seeming victory photo that Hamas engineered. The segment showing Netanyahu being whisked off stage was aired repeatedly on Hamas television channels, with the presenters grinning widely.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.