Gaza terrorists fired a barrage of rockets towards southern Israel on Wednesday night, just moments before one ceasefire was set to end and a new one to begin.
Rockets Hit South, Israel Responds
IAF Launches Airstrikes On Terror Targets In Gaza
The Israel Air Force attacked targets in Gaza on Wednesday night, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit confirmed in a statement.
The attacks came after Gaza terrorists fired rockets at southern Israel, the statement said.
“The IDF is prepared for this possibility and is determined to continue to maintain the security of the State of Israel,” the statement noted.
An official from the Palestinian Authority’s interior ministry told AFP there were four air strikes over open ground.
Gaza terrorists fired a barrage of rockets towards southern Israel on Wednesday night, just moments before one ceasefire was set to end and a new one to begin.
The Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepted one rocket over the city of Netivot. Two other rockets exploded in the Sdot Negev region.
There were no physical injuries or damages.
The latest rocket fire came just before midnight, when a 72-hour ceasefire was set to end.
Moments before midnight, Israel and the Palestinian Arabs agreed to extend the 72-hour ceasefire.
The new ceasefire will last five days, said senior Palestinian negotiator Azzam al-Ahmed, after he and other officials initially spoke of another 72-hour lull.
Hamas Fires Rockets At Southern Israel Before End Of Ceasefire
Two hours before the Gaza truce was due to end Wednesday midnight, Palestinian rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip at large parts of southern Israel, including Ashkelon, Kiryat Gath, Yoav District, Shear Hanegev. Two were intercepted. No casualties were reported. Hamas envoys said that the Cairo talks had broken down and the truce would not be renewed unless their conditions were met. They called off a scheduled news conference without explanation. Hamas went back to launching rockets after Israel nodded its acceptance of a further truce, while at the same time concentrating armored forces on the Gaza border in case the Palestinians against fired rockets. Wednesday afternoon, IDF reservists were called up, as columns of tanks, tank carriers and APCs thundered down the roads leading to the Gaza border.
Our sources also reported that the indirect Egyptian-brokered talks between the parties in Cairo never got off the ground. From the start, all three realized that the gaps between Israel and the Palestinians were unbridgeable and, moreover, that Hamas and the Palestinian Authority were totally at odds on a common negotiating stance.
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The Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepted one rocket over the city of Netivot. Two other rockets exploded in the Sdot Negev region.
There were no physical injuries or damages.
The latest rocket fire came just before midnight, when a 72-hour ceasefire was set to end.
Moments before midnight, Israel and the Palestinian Arabs agreed to extend the 72-hour ceasefire.
The new ceasefire will last five days, said senior Palestinian negotiator Azzam al-Ahmed, after he and other officials initially spoke of another 72-hour lull.
The extension was announced even though Hamas violated the previous ceaseire just after 9:00 p.m. when it fired at least one rocket towards the Hof Ashkelon area.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri denied, however, that the group fired any rockets at Israel.
Israel struck Hamas targets in Gaza overnight Wednesday-Thursday, in response to a new rash of rocket fire, even as Palestinian and Egyptian officials announced a new, five-day truce.
Sirens rang out in southern Israel, several rockets fell in open areas and one was intercepted over Netivot.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri denied Hamas was behind the rocket fire.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed the IDF to hit back at terrorist targets, and Israeli strikes were reported in northern Gaza and Gaza City after midnight. Soon after, further rockets were fired at southern Israel.
It was not immediately clear whether the new rocket fire and Israeli response spelled the end of the five-day truce. Israel’s negotiating team was reportedly updating Netanyahu on the Cairo talks when the rocket fire resumed.
“Israel agreed to an Egyptian proposal to extend the truce by 72 hours,” the official told AFP shortly after the Israeli negotiating team returned from Cairo late Wednesday following a third intensive day of talks. “We agreed to extend the truce and continue the negotiations but (the Palestinians) are digging their heels in,” the Israeli official said.
“The way things stand now, it doesn’t look like it’s going to stay quiet,” he said.
The renewed rocket fire was confirmed by a reservist soldier stationed on Israel’s border with the Gaza Strip. “At 9:47 I saw a couple of rockets shoot out towards Ashkelon,” he told The Times of Israel.
Hamas is seeking an end to the crippling blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt in 2007. The blockade has greatly limited the movement of Palestinians in and out of the territory of 1.8 million people. It has also restricted the flow of goods into Gaza and blocked virtually all exports.
Israel says the closure is necessary to prevent arms smuggling, and officials are reluctant to make any concessions that would allow Hamas to declare victory.
Israel wants Hamas to disarm, or at least be prevented from re-arming. Hamas has recovered from previous rounds of violence with Israel, including a major three-week ground operation in January 2009 and another weeklong air offensive in 2012. It now controls an arsenal of thousands of rockets, some with long ranges and powerful. Gaza terrorists fired more than 3,000 rockets toward Israel during the war.
The attacks came after Gaza terrorists fired rockets at southern Israel, the statement said.
“The IDF is prepared for this possibility and is determined to continue to maintain the security of the State of Israel,” the statement noted.
An official from the Palestinian Authority’s interior ministry told AFP there were four air strikes over open ground.
Gaza terrorists fired a barrage of rockets towards southern Israel on Wednesday night, just moments before one ceasefire was set to end and a new one to begin.
The Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepted one rocket over the city of Netivot. Two other rockets exploded in the Sdot Negev region.
There were no physical injuries or damages.
The latest rocket fire came just before midnight, when a 72-hour ceasefire was set to end.
Moments before midnight, Israel and the Palestinian Arabs agreed to extend the 72-hour ceasefire.
The new ceasefire will last five days, said senior Palestinian negotiator Azzam al-Ahmed, after he and other officials initially spoke of another 72-hour lull.
Two hours before the Gaza truce was due to end Wednesday midnight, Palestinian rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip at large parts of southern Israel, including Ashkelon, Kiryat Gath, Yoav District, Shear Hanegev. Two were intercepted. No casualties were reported. Hamas envoys said that the Cairo talks had broken down and the truce would not be renewed unless their conditions were met. They called off a scheduled news conference without explanation. Hamas went back to launching rockets after Israel nodded its acceptance of a further truce, while at the same time concentrating armored forces on the Gaza border in case the Palestinians against fired rockets. Wednesday afternoon, IDF reservists were called up, as columns of tanks, tank carriers and APCs thundered down the roads leading to the Gaza border.
Our sources also reported that the indirect Egyptian-brokered talks between the parties in Cairo never got off the ground. From the start, all three realized that the gaps between Israel and the Palestinians were unbridgeable and, moreover, that Hamas and the Palestinian Authority were totally at odds on a common negotiating stance.
Our military sources say that Israel’s government and military leaders were braced for the next stage of the confrontation with Hamas, which will be a lot tougher, deeper and broader than a few restrained air strikes.
Come the next Israeli elections, I doubt Netanyahu will be prime minister. He caved in to obama, the u.n. and others way too many times. I'm sure that the Israelis are fed up with the rockets and want someone who will deal with the terrorists
ReplyDeleteI think he may have a chance to redeem himself now that the fighting is starting back up - we'll see...I agree with that - he has given in. I suspect it has to do with threats from the U.S. behind the scenes. Just my guess, but still, the people seem to be getting angry at the situation. The next few days should be interesting
ReplyDeleteWell, not only has he caved in to obama and the U.N. but I hate to say he also caved into bush before obama. I ain't worried about Israel, I'm worried about the U.S. I wouldn't count on Netanyahu redeeming himself, Israel needs a leader who won't cave. As someone put it this is a theater of the absurd
ReplyDeleteYes indeed Brother Scott, Bibi didnt "cave" out of weakness, but rather the extreme need for Israel's very survival!
ReplyDeleteFirst we had the "funding" for continued support of Iron Dome, suddenly cut off, suspended by the Senate lead by Reid! It was FINALLY approved, in a mere amount of 250 million, I think it was, only AFTER Israel backed down a bit! NOW, we have this coming out!
"Report: US halted weapons transfer to Israel during Gaza offensive "
http://www.jpost.com/Diplomacy-and-Politics/Report-US-halted-weapons-transfer-to-Israel-during-Gaza-offensive-371062
President zero,the ac wanna be, is blackmailing Israel as typical Chicago thuggery, at a CRITICAL time! Israel's very defense is at stake here!
I say this with ALL humility, but for many years I would post in discussions (in other places), that with Isaiah 17, Israel is alone, unable to re-supply, massive destruction and suffering will happen to them. God Himself calls it “desolation” that is coming to Israel in Isaiah 17. Whew boy, that didnt sit well with a lot of folks that were hooked into the latest and greatest book written at the time, that was clearly a false teaching on this matter.
ReplyDeleteAll these years later, we are witnessing the beginnings of EXACTLY what Gods Word said would happen with the coming Isaiah 17 war.
1. The U.S. Is NO WHERE in the coming wars, of Isaiah 17 & Ezekiel 38, no where! This fact spells either a complete disaster for the U.S. Forces in the ME, and withdrawal because of that. Or, that the U.S. withdraws because of the cowardice, weak, utopian minded so called “leader” (use the term lightly) of this great nation! Either way, we are not there!
2. Israel will be completely isolated, unable to re-supply to fight the massive attack from evil surrounding nations.
Praying for His Mercy on this nation, for what this evil president is doing to Israel. Praying greatly
for Israel, their Leaders, and His People...
Praying with you Mrs.C.
ReplyDelete