Reports: Israel carrying out strikes in Gaza
Palestinian media reports say Israeli aircraft are carrying out airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, ahead of the start of the ceasefire in two hours.
Rocket sirens sound in Israeli communities south of Gaza
Fresh rocket sirens sound in Israeli communities just south of the Gaza Strip, some two hours before a ceasefire is due to go into effect.
The alarms are heard in towns throughout the Eshkol region of southern Israel.
Residents of the area were ordered by the military to remain in close proximity of bomb shelters out of concern for attacks in the lead up to the ceasefire.
Hamas armed wing: We ‘humiliated the enemy’
A spokesperson for Hamas’s armed wing says that the terror group has succeeded in “humiliating the enemy.”
“We had prepared strikes which could cover all of Palestine… but we have said yes to the ceasefire,” the spokesperson claims.
Mayor of rocket-battered Sderot denounces ceasefire
The mayor of Sderot, whose town has been heavily targeted by Gaza rocket fire in the current round of fighting and in years past, harshly denounces the government’s decision to enter into an unconditional ceasefire with the Hamas terror group.
“This proves that despite the full support and perseverance and heroism that the residents of the south have shown for the past 20 years, it appears that Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu and the Israeli government are not interested in defeating Hamas and prefer temporary quiet for residents of central Israel at the expense of residents of the Gaza periphery and the south, who will continue to suffer from terrorism,” Mayor Alon Davidi says.
Sa’ar: A unilateral ceasefire will harm Israeli deterrence
New Hope leader Gideon Sa’ar criticizes the government plan to declare a unilateral ceasefire in Gaza.
He says such a move “would seriously harm Israeli deterrence” for Hamas and other terror groups.
“The cessation of Israeli military activity without imposing any restrictions preventing the arming and strengthening of Hamas and without the return of the soldiers and civilians held in Gaza will be a political failure, the price of which will be paid, with interest, in the future,” says Sa’ar.
IDF: 299 rockets fired at Israel since this morning
The Israel Defense Forces says 299 rockets have been fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip since 7 a.m.
The military says 42 of the rockets fell in Gaza. The Iron Dome anti-missile defense system successfully intercepted 90 percent of the projectiles, it says.
The army says it struck 30 rocket-launching sites in Gaza since this morning. The IDF says it carried out 430 strikes on Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad rocket-launching sites in the past several days, killing 20 terrorists involved.
Residents of Gaza border communities told to shelter until further notice
Residents of communities within four kilometers of the Gaza Strip have been instructed to remain in their shelters until further notice.
Bernie Sanders introduces resolution to halt $735 million arms sale to Israel
US Senator Bernie Sanders is leading a long-shot effort to halt a $735 million arms sale to Israel as Democrats in the US Congress raise mounting concerns about the violence in the Middle East.
The Vermont senator introduces a resolution to block the weapons transfer. A similar measure in the House was introduced Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat from New York, and liberal lawmakers on Wednesday.
Sanders says that Congress needs to “take a hard look at whether the sale of these weapons is actually helping… or whether it is simply fueling conflict.”
Near-constant barrages fired from Gaza; sirens in Ashdod, Beersheba, southern towns
Rockets are fired at the southern city of Ashdod and numerous southern towns and villages.
It is the first time today that projectiles have been fired at Ashdod.
The rocket fire has been almost nonstop at some locations for a number of hours, sending residents rushing for shelter.
A number of direct hits are recorded over the course of the day, causing extensive damage and light injuries.
Rocket hits building in Beersheba industrial zone; no injuries
A building in Beersheba’s industrial zone is hit by a rocket during one of the near-continuous barrages on the south of Israel.
Netanyahu: Drone shot down earlier this week was Iranian UAV armed with explosives
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tells Germany’s Foreign Minister Heiko Maas that a drone downed by the Israel Defense Forces earlier this week was an Iranian unmanned aerial vehicle armed with explosives.
The IDF until now has largely remained mum on the incident, in which the UAV was brought down as it approached Israeli airspace near the city of Beit Shean.
According to Netanyahu, the drone was made by Iran and launched toward Israel from either Syria or Iraq.
This would be the second time that Iran has sent armed UAVs into Israel.
In a similar case in 2018, a drone was flown from Syria into northern Israel before it was shot down by an Israeli helicopter.
In response, the IDF launched a wave of strikes on Iranian assets in Syria.
Fresh rocket barrages fired from Gaza toward Beersheba, surrounding towns
The southern city of Beersheba and a number of Bedouin towns and encampments in the surrounding Negev desert come under renewed rocket fire.
Sirens send residents rushing for cover.
A number of projectiles are intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system.
Heavy rocket fire on southern Israel: Sirens sound in Beersheba, Bedouin towns
A barrage of rockets is fired toward the southern city of Beersheba and a number of Bedouin towns and encampments in the surrounding Negev desert.
Reports of building in Ashkelon hit by rocket fired from Gaza
Initial reports say a building in the southern city has been hit by a rocket fired from Gaza.
It is not immediately known if there are injuries.
The rocket was fired as part of a number of barrages toward the city and a number of Gaza border communities.
Channel 12 news shows live footage of the rockets being fired from Gaza.
A survey cited by Channel 12 news finds that the majority of Israelis do not believe Israel should negotiate a ceasefire now.
The poll finds that 72% say “the operation should continue,” with the number rising slightly in the south of the country to 73%.
Only 24% say “we should agree” to a ceasefire, with the figure dropping to 22% in the south.
When asked whether Israel has made greater achievements in this round [of fighting Hamas] than previous rounds, 66% say yes, with the figure dropping to 30% of those who live in the south, while 30% say no (28% among southern residents).
Sirens sound in Nir Am, Kissufim and Mefalsim
Fresh rocket sirens have been set off in the Gaza border towns of Nir Am, Kissufim and Mefalsim.
There are no reports of injuries or damage.
UN Human Rights Council to hold special session on Israel, Palestinians
The UN Human Rights Council says it will hold a special session on the situation in the West Bank and East Jerusalem amid the deadly violence between Israel and the Gaza terror groups.
The session, planned for next Thursday, will address “the grave human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem,” the council says in a statement.
The session was requested by Pakistan, which is the coordinator of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and the Palestinian authorities, it says.
IDF says it hit 5 more Hamas rocket launchers, some buried underground
According to the IDF, some of these were aboveground and some had been buried in order to make them more difficult for Israel to spot and destroy.
Barrages fired at Beersheba, Negev towns, Gaza border community
Sirens are heard in the southern city of Beersheba and a number of towns and villages in the Negev Desert, warning of incoming rocket fire.
Alerts are also heard in the Gaza border town of Netiv Ha’asara, which has come under sustained fire since the morning, with the Home Front Command telling residents not to leave their shelters.
There are no immediate reports of injuries or damage.
Beersheba residents reported hearing explosions suggestive of interceptions by the Iron Dome missile defense system.
Rocket alerts wail in the Gaza border communities of Holit, Nahal Oz, Kerem Shalom, Netiv Ha’asara, Be’eri and Kissufim.
Many of those towns have been under near-continuous fire since this morning.
Sirens warn of incoming fire to Ashkelon, Gaza border and Negev towns
Sirens are heard in towns in the south of Israel and close to the Gaza border as the area comes under sustained fire from terror groups in the Strip.
Rocket warnings wail as far east as some of the Bedouin towns and encampments in the Negev, and as far north as Ashkelon.
Barrages of projectiles fired at Gaza border communities
Incoming rocket sirens sound in a number of communities surrounding the Gaza Strip, sending residents rushing for shelter.
There are no immediate reports of injuries or damage.
The alerts come as the Israel Defense Forces continues to carry out strikes on terror targets in the Gaza Strip.
In my opinion, if families know coward Hamas uses them to hide behind while attacking Israel, those families should flee to avoid putting their children in harms way!!!
ReplyDeleteThere is the land of plenty in the Middle East, it's time concerned Palestinians leave Hamas strong-holds showing their condemnation toward Hamas involving their families in turmoil time and time again! So therefore Israel can do what they must to cities where Hamas hide in while protecting the Israeli populace, a strong messaging toward deterrence must happen because this Hamas Terrorism is too evil not to go all the way in destroying the Hamas usage of the Gaza-Strip once, and for all, in my opinion!
Terrorist are criminals, arresting or eradicating them is necessary, any cease fire is a band-aid when dealing with Terrorist IMO, you don't negotiate with Terrorist, they don't fight fair...obviously! It's real simple, attacked by terrorists, you go after them to wipe them out; How many are there of those groups? Those questioning Israel's defending themselves
are siding with Hamas Terrorists in my opinion, what does that make people
siding with Terrorists? Besides siding with evil, it does not say much for anyone wanting bad guys to win, in my opinion! God help the blind that won't
see truths! Common-sense is price-less and few are using it yonder or they would ALL go after Hamas, and other Terrorist fractions IMO! Beginning to wonder if the Middle East even remembers what peace feels like? Peace is good, joyful, everyone uniting, harmony, and joyfulness embraced! Oh, we need more peace here in USA too.