Tag Archive for Operation Pillar of Defense

| November 17, 2012
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Analysis: Will Ground Incursion Unseat Hamas?

IDF’s options include applying pressure & waiting for Hamas to cry uncle, or finishing what Cast Lead started.

By Gil Ronen

 

The Israeli government has approved the call-up of 75,000 reservists to participate in the Gaza fighting, as infantry, armor and engineering units mass near Gaza awaiting the command to enter the Hamas-controlled terror state.

IDF tank outside Gaza - Reuters

IDF tank outside Gaza – Reuters

No one outside the IDF’s leadership knows if the IDF intends to invade Gaza, when the IDF incursion will start, and what its targets will be.

If an incursion does take place, there are different possible scenarios for it. Continue Reading »

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| November 17, 2012
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Hamas demands for cease-fire: The siege ends as well as targeted killings

Hamas presented its demands for halting rocket fire at Cairo meeting, reports Islamic Jihad-affiliated website

Roi Kais

 

The lifting of the Gaza blockade and international community guarantees for the cessation of targeted killings – these are the conditions Hamas has put forward in exchange for halting its rocket fire at Israel, the Islamic Jihad-affiliated Palestine al-Youm website reported Saturday.

Tanks wait near Gaza border – Photo: AP

According to the report, the terms were presented at a meeting held in Cairo between Hamas representatives headed by politburo chief Khaled Mashaal and Egyptian officials headed by intelligence chief Raafat Shehata. Continue Reading »

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| November 17, 2012
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Hamas HQ Pulverized – ‘Gaza Power Grid Targeted’

Obama, European leaders & even Israeli press is relatively supportive

Israel Air Force operations are seen as very successful thus far

By Gil Ronen

 

The IDF’s pounding of Hamas’ infrastructure in Gaza entered its fourth day Saturday, and is deemed as highly successful until this point.

Rubble of Haniyeh HQ

Rubble of Haniyeh HQ – Reuters

The Hamas government headquarters, which housed Gaza “prime minister” Ismail Haniyeh’s offices, were leveled to the ground. In addition, “security compounds, tunnels and electricity transformers” were hit, according to Al Jazeera. “Missiles also knocked out five electricity transformers, plunging more than 400,000 people into darkness, according to the Gaza electricity distribution company,” the news network reported. Continue Reading »

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| November 17, 2012
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New Iron Dome Battery Intercepts Rocket for Tel Aviv

After air raid sirens sound in Tel Aviv & Rishon Lezion at around 4:30pm, new Battery deployed in Tel Aviv area on Saturday makes 1st interception.

By Yoav Zitun

 

For the third time in three days an air raid siren sounded in Tel Aviv. The Iron Dome battery which had been deployed in the region just hours earlier intercepted one rocket fired from Gaza. Another rocket landed in an open area. No injuries were reported.

Hamas‘ military wing, Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, claimed responsibility for the firing of the Fajr 5 missile.

Interception of rocket fired toward Tel Aviv

At around 4:30 pm, an air raid siren sounded in the Tel Aviv area and in Rishon Lezion. Continue Reading »

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| November 17, 2012
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Egypt to host Turkey, Qatar & Hamas on Gaza predicament.

4-way meeting on Gaza to take place in Cairo at Morsi’s invitation.

By REUTERS

 

CAIRO – Egypt’s president will hold four-way talks with the Qatari emir, the prime minister of Turkey and Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal in Cairo on Saturday to discuss the Gaza crisis, a presidential source said.

MOHAMED MORSI, center, prays at Al-Azhar mosque in - Photo: REUTERS

MOHAMED MORSI, center, prays at Al-Azhar mosque in – Photo: REUTERS

Egypt has been working to reinstate a truce between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, after an informal truce brokered by Cairo broke down.

Israel launched  Operation Pillar of Defense on Wednesday with the declared aim of deterring Hamas from launching cross-border rocket salvos that have plagued southern Israel for years. Continue Reading »

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| November 17, 2012
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Eshkol house hit & direct hit on Ashdod building – no one hurt

Rocket fire from Gaza on Ashdod: Iron Dome intercepts 4 rockets fired but 3 projectiles explode in residential neighborhood.

Four people lightly hurt, a few other residents treated for panic attacks.

Omri Efraim

 

A barrage of four rockets was fired from Gaza toward Ashdod at around noon Saturday. One of the rockets struck a building in the city and two others landed in a residential area. A number of people suffered from anxiety. The fourth projectile did not cause any injury but damaged a vehicle. Channel 2 said four people sustained light wounds during the attack on Ashdod. They were evacuated to the Kaplan Medical Center in Rehovot. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| November 17, 2012
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Hamas PM Haniyeh’s bureau in north Gaza bombed by IAF

IDF strikes 200 targets  Friday night, airstrikes hit Hamas gov’t offices in Gaza including Interior Ministry & Police compound

IDF assassinates 2 Hamas commanders

By JPOST.COM STAFF, YAAKOV LAPPIN

 

 

The Israel Air force struck Hamas leader Ismael Haniyeh’s headquarters in the northern Gaza Strip early Saturday morning, according to the IDF Spokesman’s Office.

Hamas Headquarters Before bombed - Screenshot -IDF clip

Hamas Headquarters Before bombed – Screenshot -IDF clip

Haniyeh was not at the headquarters during the IAF strike, Israel Radio reported. It was not immediately clear whether there were any casualties in the strike.

Heavy rocket fire renewed Saturday morning after a relatively quiet night, with 40 rockets fired at southern Israeli cities since midnight. Continue Reading »

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| November 17, 2012
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Photo-Journal of Protests held worldwide against Israel

Hundreds of people demonstrate against ‘Gaza slaughter’ in Greece, Turkey, South Korea, Spain & Australia.

Pro-Israel rally held in New York City

Yitzhak Benhorin

 

WASHINGTON – Pro-Palestinian activists protested Friday in several world capitals against Israel‘s Operation Pillar of Defense in Gaza under the banner, “Free Palestine.”

הפגנה נגד ישראל בתוניס (צילום: EPA)

Anti-Israel protest in Tunisia – Photo: EPA

Hundreds demonstrated in Istanbul and Ankara, in Australia, outside the parliament in Rome, and opposite Israeli embassies in South Korea, Istanbul and Madrid. Protest rallies were also held in the Arab world – in Tunisia, Yemen, Egypt and Algeria.

Ali Golin, who protested in Istanbul, said: “I believe that all Muslims should show solidarity. Continue Reading »

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| November 17, 2012
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Obama discussed details of ‘Operation Pillar of Defense’ with Netanyahu on Friday

U.S. President Barack Obama  reiterates American support for Israel’s right to defend itself.

By Reuters

 

 

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday and the two discussed options for “de-escalating” the situation in Israel and Gaza, the White House said.

President Barack Obama talks on the phone with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

President Barack Obama talks on the phone with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in the Oval Office, September 28, 2012 – Photo by Pete Souza

Obama “reiterated U.S. support for Israel’s right to defend itself, and expressed regret over the loss of Israeli and Palestinian civilian lives,” according to a statement on the call.

“The prime minister expressed his deep appreciation to the president and the American people for the United States’ investment in the Iron Dome rocket and mortar defense system, which has effectively defeated hundreds of incoming rockets from Gaza,” the statement said. Continue Reading »

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| November 17, 2012
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Home Front Command: Seven weeks of fighting ahead

So far some 2,000 Command reservists have been recruited

Municipality heads within 75-km range from Gaza Strip are instructed to prepare their communities for 50 days of conflict

By Yoav Zitun

 

Home Front Command asks local authorities to prepare for seven-week fighting period: In discussions held between Home Front Command Chief Major-General Eyal Eisenberg, regional commanders and heads of local authorities in the center and in the south, authorities have been instructed to prepare for a seven-week period of combat as part of Operation Pillar of Defense and to prepare emergency supplies, accordingly.

IDF prepares armed forces near Gaza border.Photo:REUTERS/Ronen Zvulu

IDF prepares armed forces near Gaza border – Photo:REUTERS/Ronen Zvulu

Some supplies were prepared in advance. Continue Reading »

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| November 16, 2012
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Hamas releases 1st rockets towards Jerusalem

After reaching the metro-Tel Aviv area, missile range extended to Israel’s capital as well.

Air raid siren sounded in Jerusalem area shortly after Palestinian terrorists promises ‘surprise’…but, rocket lands near Palestinian village in Gush Etzion area.

By Noam (Dabul) Dvir

 

After Tel Aviv metropolitan area, capital under fire too: An air raid siren was sounded in Jerusalem and surrounding communities early Friday evening. After residents reported hearing blast sounds, security forces confirmed that one rocket had landed in the Gush Etzion area near a Palestinian village.

There were no reports of injuries or damage.

השובל של הרקטה, כפי שצולם באזור ירושלים (צילום: אור סבן )

Rocket over Jerusalem – Photo: Or Saban

This was the first air raid siren sounded in the area since the IDF launched Operation Pillar of Defense in the Gaza Strip. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| November 16, 2012
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Hamas Tried to Develop a Drone

The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit reveals that Gaza’s Hamas terrorist leaders have been trying to develop an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for use against Israel.

By Elad Benari, Canada

 

Gaza’s Hamas terrorist rulers have been trying to develop an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit revealed on Friday.

A video published by the IDF Spokesperson shows Hamas conducting a test flight of the drone it was building. Over the past week, during the IDF’s Operation Pillar of Defense, IAF aircraft struck a stockpile of such UAVs.

Reports on Friday evening indicated that the Hamas developers of the UAV acquired the knowledge required to develop it in Iran and Syria. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| November 16, 2012
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Morsi threatens: Israel will pay heavy price

 

Egyptian president vows that his country will ‘stop this brutal aggression’ against Gaza, threatening: ‘If I see the homeland in danger, I won’t hesitate to take unusual steps.’ 

By Roi Kais

 

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi sharpened his tone against Israel on Friday, while Palestinian terrorists continued to fire rockets into southern Israel and Tel Aviv.

Morsi. Threats Photo: AFP

Morsi. – Photo: AFP

After concluding the Friday prayer at a mosque in Cairo, Morsi warned Israel of the consequences of its strikes in Gaza. According to the al-Shorouk newspaper, Morsi tweeted on his Twitter page: “We have the power to uproot the aggressiveness just like it uprooted exploitation. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| November 16, 2012
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As Rockets are fired at TLV & J’lem, Barak Calls Up More IDF Reserves

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak expanded on Friday the call-up of reserve soldiers, a spokesman said, as Israel pushed ahead with a major offensive against terrorists in Gaza.

By Annie Lubin

 

 

“The defense minister has this evening ordered the mobilisation of new reserve forces,” Josh Hantman told AFP shortly after two rockets fired from Gaza hit an open field in Gush Etzion, near Jerusalem, and another landed in the sea by central Tel Aviv.

IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz in the field

IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz in the field
IDF Spokespersons

The rockets that reached Tel Aviv were the first missiles to hit the city since the 1991 Gulf War. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| November 16, 2012
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IDF chief prepares for Gaza ground assault by issueing 16,000 IDF draft orders

On 3rd day of operation, IDF hits dozens of Gaza targets from air & sea

“The prime minister’s instructions are to hit them hard,” says official, as IDF continues firing on targets in Gaza with infantry & armored units gathering near the border with Gaza

By Shlomo Cesana and Lilach Shoval

Operation Pillar of Defense entered its third day on Friday, and the Israel Defense Forces were preparing for a ground assault in Gaza by calling up thousands of reservists. The reservists will be joining the soldiers already moving toward Gaza, after IDF Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz instructed forces to accelerate preparations for a ground operation.

Continue Reading »
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