Tag Archive for Operation Protective Edge

Hamas Agreed to UN Ceasefire for Thursday, Then Fired a Rocket Salvo at Israel

Immediately after Hamas agreed to a temporary humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza for Thursday morning, they began firing another salvo of rockets towards Israel.

By Elad Benari

 

Hamas agreed on Wednesday night to a temporary humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, but not before firing another salvo of rockets towards Israel.

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri – Reuters

“The group agrees to a ceasefire for five hours,” starting from 10:00 a.m. local time Thursday, Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said in a statement quoted by the AFP news agency.

“The Palestinian factions agreed to accept the offer from the United Nations for a cooling-down on the ground for five hours starting from 10 in the morning,” he told the news agency. Continue Reading »

Hamas Offers Israel a 10-Year Truce, Take it….or else!

Apparently feeling Hamas won this war against Israel, they demand an end to Jerusalem’s and Cairo’s blockade on Gaza, that Hamas prisoners be released and someone builds them a new airport.

By Israel Today Staff

 

Hamas officials on Wednesday officially rejected an Egyptian proposal to bring an end to the current Gaza war, but did reportedly offer their own ceasefire agreement.

IDF Artillery

The Egyptian proposal, which Israel accepted and briefly implemented unilaterally on Tuesday, called for an immediate cessation of hostilities on both sides, followed by negotiations in Cairo to hammer out the terms of a lasting truce.

But Hamas appears to feel it’s holding better cards than that, and, according to Palestinian sources cited by local media, has presented a 10-year truce in return for far-reaching Israeli concessions.

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Gaza’s civilians receive uninterrupted medical care in Israel ‘without discrimination’

‘Save a Child’s Heart’, an Israeli-based humanitarian project, hasn’t slowed down bring Palestinian children to Wolfson Medical Center for treatment

• Palestinian grandmother from Gaza: ‘We did not face discrimination. I don’t care what they will say in Gaza, I saw the reality here.’

By Meital Yisor Beit-Or

Even as Gaza Strip-based terrorists continue to fire rockets at Israel, Palestinian children are receiving medical care at the Edith Wolfson Medical Center in the central Israeli city of Holon.

Gazan newborn Abdul Rahman Wahdan received surgery in Israel for a serious heart defect – Photo: Gideon Markowicz

On Tuesday, as on every Tuesday for the past 18 years, children from Gaza and the West Bank arrived at the hospital for routine medical checks as part of the Israeli-based international humanitarian project Save a Child’s Heart, which provides life-saving medical care for children born with heart defects.

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Israel calls 8,000 additional reservists -now 56,000 strong for Gaza ground assault

The IDF is bringing the total number to 56,000, and once the additional forces are called up, an assault appears imminent.

 

The cabinet on Wednesday authorized the call-up of 8,000 additional reservists to assist in the military operations along the Gaza frontier.

Benny Gantz

IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz, June 24, 2014. – Photo: IDF SPOKESMAN’S OFFICE

The IDF has already called up 48,000 reserves, bringing the total number to 56,000, once the additional forces are called up.

Last week, the IDF began actively calling up the 40,000 reserves approved to it by the cabinet for Operation Protective Edge. Continue Reading »

Norwegian Foreign Minister & Lieberman run for shelter in Ashkelon as Gaza rocket explodes

 

Touring Ashkelon with Norwegian counterpart, FM Lieberman says Israel doesn’t need to control Gaza or build Jewish settlements, just eliminate Hamas.

By Itay Blumental, Attila Somfalvi

 

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Norwegian Foreign Minister Børge Brende were forced to run for cover Wednesday, when a rocket fired by Gaza militants struck a building in Ashkelon during their visit to the city.

Borge (left) and Lieberman tour Ashkelon (Photo: Yaron Sharon)

Borge (left) and Lieberman tour Ashkelon – Photo: Yaron Sharon

Lieberman had taken his Scandinavian counterpart to the city, which has been battered by rockets from Gaza, and the two top diplomats ran when the siren sounded. No one was hurt in the attack. Continue Reading »

Anti-Israel protests going violent & viral in Europe & the U.S.

The pro-Palestinian narrative has become more vicious” with chants that say “Death to Israel” and signs that refer to Jews, not Israelis.

 

Fallout from the hostilities between Israel and Hamas is spreading across Europe and the United States. Protests about the conflict have flared up, much like they did during past battles, increasingly turning confrontational, notably in the United States, Israel’s staunchest ally.

Detroit, Michigan July 13, 2014.

Arab-American demonstrators march down Woodward Avenue waving U.S and Palestinian flags as they protest against Israeli military strikes on Gaza, in downtown Detroit, Michigan July 13, 2014. – Photo: Reuters

Although the violence from Palestinian supporters at pro-Israel rallies in Los Angeles and Boston has not approached the seriousness of recent incidents in Paris and Berlin, many community leaders on both sides have noted an upswing in the level of vitriol and frustration reflected in the rhetoric emanating from the pro-Palestinian camp.

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Gaza Resident to Israel: ‘Reoccupy us, only way to be rid of Hamas’

 

Gaza residents are fed up with Hamas’ corrupt, violent agenda, prefer Israel, ‘the least of two evils’.

By Israel Today Staff

 

While observers of the latest round of violence between Israel and Hamas are certain to hear many negative claims against the Jewish state, the residents of Gaza are also quietly expressing ire at their terrorist overlords.

Patriot missile launched in the Negev desert

A Patriot missile launched in the Negev desert (archives) – Photo: Reuters

“Everybody here hates Hamas,” Gaza taxi drive Abu Ali told the Associated Press. “But they’re too afraid to say so publicly. Our food comes from Israel but what we give them in return is rockets — rockets that don’t even make little holes in the ground.”

Continue Reading »

For 2nd in time in days, Hamas rocket damages electricity supply-line to Gaza

Gazans lose 20% of their electricity supply.

IEC electricians instructed not to endanger themselves and to make repairs after shooting ceases.

 

After rocket fire from Gaza hit a second power line that feeds electricity to Gaza on Tuesday evening, the Israel Electric Corporation (IEC) instructed its workers to refrain from making repairs until the shooting ceases.

Electricity on the way to the Palestinians (illustrative) – Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP

Electricity on the way to the Palestinians (illustrative) – Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP

The IEC received orders from National Infrastructure, Energy and Water Minister Silvan Shalom to avoid endangering its employees to fix the downed line while Hamas continues to launch rockets from Gaza, the company said.

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Gaza facing sewage and water crisis if hostilities continue

UN aid NGOs cite health and safety concerns as lack of water treatment leading to sewage on the beach & 90% undrinkable water. Agencies see serious immediate concerns should situation not stabilize.

By Reuters

 

GENEVA – Hundreds of thousands of Gazans are without water after Israeli air strikes have wrecked the water and sewage system and threatened the entire strip with a water crisis within days, aid agencies warned on Tuesday.

Aid agencies say that IAF bombardments of the Gaza Strip are responsible for an imending water and sanitary crisis in the Strip. (Photo: EPA)

Aid agencies say that IAF bombardments of the Gaza Strip are responsible for an imending water and sanitary crisis in the Strip. – Photo: EPA

The eight-day assault has caused massive damage to infrastructure and destroyed at least 560 homes, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) said. Continue Reading »

Israel’s Retaliatory Air-Strike on Syrian Targets Leave 12 Dead

IAF responds to Monday’s latest rocket attack on northern Israel by striking targets Quneitra, in Syria’s Golan Heights.

NGO says 12 Syrians were killed.

By Tova Dvorin

 

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) bombed several terror targets in the city of Quneitra, Syria overnight Tuesday, following a volley of rockets on the Golan Heights, Syrian media reported.

Between four and twelve people were killed in the airstrike; exact numbers have varied among news outlets.

“Israeli planes flying over the occupied Golan Heights launched rockets into southern Syria’s Quneitra province at around 1:15 am (2215 GMT). Rockets hit Base 90 — a Syrian military airbase — and regime bastion Baath City.  Continue Reading »

SECURITY UPDATE: War Resumes – Gaza Ceasefire Already Over

For 1st time ever!

Israel hits simultaneously on 4 attacking fronts: Sinai, Gaza, Syria & Lebanon.

By Ryan Jones

 

 

An Egyptian-brokered ceasefire that Western and Israeli leaders hoped would bring an end to the current Gaza war had already collapsed by Tuesday afternoon, just hours after Israel’s cabinet voted in favor of the truce.

Jihad, a family affair – Israel Today

Around mid-morning, Israeli ministers voted 6-2 to accept the Egyptian proposal, and the Israeli army was ordered to halt all operations against terrorist forces in Gaza.

But, the Gaza rockets just kept coming. Volley after volley targeted central and northern Israel.

Continue Reading »

Hamas refuses Israeli humanitarian aid: Won’t accept Jewish blood for Gaza hospitals

 

Israel offers to transfer blood units to Gaza Hospitals via Red Cross, but Abbas’ Palestinian Authority rejects humanitarian gesture.

Jerusalem approves Red Cross request to include representatives in Israel’s MDA situation assessments of #OperationProtectiveEdge

By Meital Yasur Beit-Or

 

Israel’s Magen David Adom (MDA)emergency services on Monday offered to transfer blood units and donations to Gaza Strip, but the humanitarian gesture was rejected by the Palestinian Authority.

Palestinian Authority rejects Magen David Adom’s suggestions to facilitate blood drive [Illustrative] – Photo: Reuters

According to MDA Director Eli Bin, the organization then offered to assist the PA by facilitating blood drives involving Palestinian or Israeli Arab donors, but that offer was rejected as well.

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US Sec. of St. John Kerry blasts Hamas for ignoring ceasefire with Israel

Secretary Kerry, totally frustrated says, “I cannot condemn strongly enough the actions of Hamas in so brazenly firing rockets in the face of a goodwill effort to offer a ceasefire.”

 

VIENNA — US Secretary of State John Kerry blamed Hamas for powering through a ceasefire with Israel, brokered by the Egyptian government and accepted by Israel’s cabinet Tuesday morning.

John Kerry

John Kerry – Photo: REUTERS

At least 35 rockets have been fired from the Gaza Strip since the ceasefire was set to begin, mere hours ago.

“I cannot condemn strongly enough the actions of Hamas in so brazenly firing rockets in multiple numbers in the face of a goodwill effort to offer a ceasefire, in which Egypt and Israel worked together, that the international community strongly supports,” Kerry told reporters in Vienna on Tuesday morning. Continue Reading »

Netanyahu: Hamas dismissal of truce gives Israel justification for operational expansion

 

 

Israel’s Security Cabinet announces it accepts Egyptian cease-fire offer.

Ignoring ceasefire, Hamas continues firing rockets at Israel, and as far as Zikhron Ya’akov, just south of Haifa.

By Reuters

 

Hamas’s rejection of the cease fire “gives Israel full legitimacy to expand the operation to protect our people,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday, after dozens of rockets hit Israel after the 9am start of the Egyptian-offered truce. Israel’s cabinet voted in favor of the truce, while Hamas’ military wing rejected the proposal.

PM Netanyahu's Meeting with German Foreign Minister

PM Netanyahu’s Meeting with German Foreign Minister – Screenshot

“We agreed to the Egyptian proposal in order to give an opportunity for the demilitarization of the (Gaza) Strip – from missiles, from rockets and from tunnels – through diplomatic means,” he told reporters during an earlier press conference with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Continue Reading »

The Egyptian initiated cease-fire proposal – The full text

Here is the Egyptian proposal in it’s entirety, that is being weighed & considered by Israel’s security cabinet.

 

1. Owing to Egypt’s historical responsibility, and out of belief in the importance of achieving peace in the region, protecting the lives of innocents, and ending the bloodshed;

Rockets fired from the Gaza strip into Israel, on July 13, 2014.

Rockets fired from the Gaza strip into Israel, on July 13, 2014.- Photo: AFP

Egypt calls upon Israel and all of the Palestinian factions to enact an immediate ceasefire, due to the fact that escalation and mutual violence, and the victims that will result, will not be in the interest of either party as such, during the period of the ceasefire, both sides shall abide by the following:

a.

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