17 oct 2018
The prime minister visits the Gaza Division following rocket attack on Israel, where he meets with senior defense officials; 'I said at the outset of the government meeting this week that if these attacks don't stop, we'll make them stop,' he says.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Wednesday that "Israel will act with great force" against Gaza after rockets from the strip hit a Be'er Sheva home and the water off the shore of a central Israeli city.
The prime minister visited the Gaza Division, where he held a situation assessment with the heads of the IDF and the defense establishment.
"I said at the outset of the government meeting this week that if these attacks (from Gaza) don't stop, we'll make them stop," he said.
Later, Netanyahu traveled to the Sdot Negev Regional Council's operations room, where he met with the heads of the five regional councils near the Gaza border and updated them on the situation.
A rocket alert siren went off at 3:39am in Be'er Sheva and surrounding communities in the Negev region, following which a rocket hit a house, breaking through two floors of concrete.
Due to the size of the rocket and the force of the impact, heavy damage was caused to the house that was hit and it is at risk of collapse. A house next door was hit by shrapnel from the rockets, and its balcony collapsed. Debris was scattered throughout the street, damaging parked cars and adjacent structures.
Seven people were treated for shock after the attack, including 39-year-old Miri Tamano and her three children aged 9, 10, and 12, who were in the house when it was hit. In addition, three people were taken to the Soroka Medical Center in the city suffering from light bruising sustained when falling as they were running for shelter.
Another rocket landed in the sea off the shores of a city in central Israel.
Hamas and Islamic Jihad released a statement from the "joint coordination room of resistance factions," in which they said they "reject all irresponsible attempts that try to change the direction and sabotage the Egyptian efforts, including the overnight firing of the rocket."
Still, the IDF placed the blame for the rocket fire on Hamas. "The rockets that were fired are self-produced and medium-ranged. Only two organizations in Gaza have such rockets: Hamas and Islamic Jihad. It doesn't matter who fired, Hamas bears the responsibility," said IDF Spokesman Ronen Manelis.
The IDF attacked over 20 targets, including a terror tunnel, in the Gaza Strip in retaliation, targeting Hamas military bases, rocket manufacturing sites, underground infrastructure, an offensive tunnel, and tunnel dig sites in other areas, including one of a sea terror tunnel.
At least one 25-year-old Palestinian fighter was killed inside one of the posts and three others moderately wounded in the strikes, according to the Gaza health ministry.
IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot decided to cut short his trip to the United States following the rocket attack, while Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman ordered the closure of the Kerem Shalom and Erez border crossings and the reduction of the strip's fishing zone to three nautical miles.
School was cancelled in Be'er Sheva, Sderot and the Gaza border communities following the rocket fire, though Ben-Gurion University announced classes will be held as normal.
Meanwhile, Egypt and the United Nations are working to prevent further rocket and mortar fire in response to the IDF's attacks.
Hamas and Islamic Jihad, the two bigger organizations in Gaza, are also involved in the talks.
Western diplomatic sources said UN envoy to the Middle East Nickolay Mladenov was supposed to enter the Gaza Strip to aid in the efforts to restore calm, but cancelled his visit.
So far, it appears the Egyptian and UN mediation efforts are bearing fruit, as even after four rounds of IDF strikes, during which over 20 quality targets were hit across the Gaza Strip, Hamas and Islamic Jihad have been demonstrating restraint.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Wednesday that "Israel will act with great force" against Gaza after rockets from the strip hit a Be'er Sheva home and the water off the shore of a central Israeli city.
The prime minister visited the Gaza Division, where he held a situation assessment with the heads of the IDF and the defense establishment.
"I said at the outset of the government meeting this week that if these attacks (from Gaza) don't stop, we'll make them stop," he said.
Later, Netanyahu traveled to the Sdot Negev Regional Council's operations room, where he met with the heads of the five regional councils near the Gaza border and updated them on the situation.
A rocket alert siren went off at 3:39am in Be'er Sheva and surrounding communities in the Negev region, following which a rocket hit a house, breaking through two floors of concrete.
Due to the size of the rocket and the force of the impact, heavy damage was caused to the house that was hit and it is at risk of collapse. A house next door was hit by shrapnel from the rockets, and its balcony collapsed. Debris was scattered throughout the street, damaging parked cars and adjacent structures.
Seven people were treated for shock after the attack, including 39-year-old Miri Tamano and her three children aged 9, 10, and 12, who were in the house when it was hit. In addition, three people were taken to the Soroka Medical Center in the city suffering from light bruising sustained when falling as they were running for shelter.
Another rocket landed in the sea off the shores of a city in central Israel.
Hamas and Islamic Jihad released a statement from the "joint coordination room of resistance factions," in which they said they "reject all irresponsible attempts that try to change the direction and sabotage the Egyptian efforts, including the overnight firing of the rocket."
Still, the IDF placed the blame for the rocket fire on Hamas. "The rockets that were fired are self-produced and medium-ranged. Only two organizations in Gaza have such rockets: Hamas and Islamic Jihad. It doesn't matter who fired, Hamas bears the responsibility," said IDF Spokesman Ronen Manelis.
The IDF attacked over 20 targets, including a terror tunnel, in the Gaza Strip in retaliation, targeting Hamas military bases, rocket manufacturing sites, underground infrastructure, an offensive tunnel, and tunnel dig sites in other areas, including one of a sea terror tunnel.
At least one 25-year-old Palestinian fighter was killed inside one of the posts and three others moderately wounded in the strikes, according to the Gaza health ministry.
IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot decided to cut short his trip to the United States following the rocket attack, while Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman ordered the closure of the Kerem Shalom and Erez border crossings and the reduction of the strip's fishing zone to three nautical miles.
School was cancelled in Be'er Sheva, Sderot and the Gaza border communities following the rocket fire, though Ben-Gurion University announced classes will be held as normal.
Meanwhile, Egypt and the United Nations are working to prevent further rocket and mortar fire in response to the IDF's attacks.
Hamas and Islamic Jihad, the two bigger organizations in Gaza, are also involved in the talks.
Western diplomatic sources said UN envoy to the Middle East Nickolay Mladenov was supposed to enter the Gaza Strip to aid in the efforts to restore calm, but cancelled his visit.
So far, it appears the Egyptian and UN mediation efforts are bearing fruit, as even after four rounds of IDF strikes, during which over 20 quality targets were hit across the Gaza Strip, Hamas and Islamic Jihad have been demonstrating restraint.
Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman claimed, on Tuesday, that Hamas had crossed all red lines, stressing that Israeli cabinet “must” take a decision to launch a “serious blow” on the Gaza Strip, to topple Hamas.
During a meeting with Israeli commanders and Israeli soldiers in charge of the Gaza division, he said: “We are not willing to accept the level of violence we see one week after another… a serious blow to Hamas could bring us at least five more years of quiet.”
He added, according to Days of Palestine: “The defence establishment did everything to [solve] the situation before 29 March before the violence broke out – we did this our way, by using force, by using persuasion, by cooperating with those who wanted to help.”
“There were all sorts of attempts to reach an arrangement led by Egypt, the UN, and the UN envoy. We tried all other ways, I did not see any results, unfortunately.”
Israeli news website Ynet reported him saying that the “serious blow… must be a decision of the cabinet. Unfortunately, neither the defence minister nor the prime minister can make such a decision on their own.”
The goal of the Palestinians in Gaza, he said, “is to lift the siege, which means one thing: uninterrupted free ability to bring in weapons, Hezbollah fighters and Iranians into the Gaza Strip – and we will never allow that”.
Prior to moving to Israel from Moldova, Lieberman worked as a nightclub bouncer. When he moved into an Israeli settlement, he gained infamy when he was charged with beating up the 12-year old boy. He espoused extreme right-wing views, and became a member of the Yisrael Beitenu party. He is now chair of that party.
In 2012, a corruption case against Lieberman was dropped, and an article in the Israeli paper Ha’aretz stated, “Completing the investigation would have required judicial inquiries in different countries, but a decision was taken on the matter, to wind up the investigation instead of probing deeper.”
During a meeting with Israeli commanders and Israeli soldiers in charge of the Gaza division, he said: “We are not willing to accept the level of violence we see one week after another… a serious blow to Hamas could bring us at least five more years of quiet.”
He added, according to Days of Palestine: “The defence establishment did everything to [solve] the situation before 29 March before the violence broke out – we did this our way, by using force, by using persuasion, by cooperating with those who wanted to help.”
“There were all sorts of attempts to reach an arrangement led by Egypt, the UN, and the UN envoy. We tried all other ways, I did not see any results, unfortunately.”
Israeli news website Ynet reported him saying that the “serious blow… must be a decision of the cabinet. Unfortunately, neither the defence minister nor the prime minister can make such a decision on their own.”
The goal of the Palestinians in Gaza, he said, “is to lift the siege, which means one thing: uninterrupted free ability to bring in weapons, Hezbollah fighters and Iranians into the Gaza Strip – and we will never allow that”.
Prior to moving to Israel from Moldova, Lieberman worked as a nightclub bouncer. When he moved into an Israeli settlement, he gained infamy when he was charged with beating up the 12-year old boy. He espoused extreme right-wing views, and became a member of the Yisrael Beitenu party. He is now chair of that party.
In 2012, a corruption case against Lieberman was dropped, and an article in the Israeli paper Ha’aretz stated, “Completing the investigation would have required judicial inquiries in different countries, but a decision was taken on the matter, to wind up the investigation instead of probing deeper.”
The Israeli occupation army on Wednesday morning closed crossings with the Gaza Strip and decided to decrease the fishing zone in Gaza waters to three nautical miles.
Maher Abul-Awf, director of central operations at the crossings and border authority, said that the Palestinian Authority liaison office informed the Palestinian side of its decision to close the commercial Karam Abu Salem crossing and the Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing, which is used for passengers, until further notice.
Abul-Awf added that the limit for fishing off the coast of Gaza was also reduced to three nautical miles due to the fall of a rocket in Beersheba, which he described as “current events.’
Maariv newspaper, for its part, confirmed that those measures were taken by Israeli army minister Avigdor Lieberman in response to the rocket attack on Beersheba, which caused damage to a house there.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Israeli army also responded by waging several aerial attacks on Gaza. Three citizens were reportedly injured in an air raid on Rafah.
Maher Abul-Awf, director of central operations at the crossings and border authority, said that the Palestinian Authority liaison office informed the Palestinian side of its decision to close the commercial Karam Abu Salem crossing and the Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing, which is used for passengers, until further notice.
Abul-Awf added that the limit for fishing off the coast of Gaza was also reduced to three nautical miles due to the fall of a rocket in Beersheba, which he described as “current events.’
Maariv newspaper, for its part, confirmed that those measures were taken by Israeli army minister Avigdor Lieberman in response to the rocket attack on Beersheba, which caused damage to a house there.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Israeli army also responded by waging several aerial attacks on Gaza. Three citizens were reportedly injured in an air raid on Rafah.
Maher Abul-Awf, director of central operations at the crossings and border authority, said that the Palestinian Authority liaison office informed the Palestinian side of its decision to close the commercial Karam Abu Salem crossing and the Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing, which is used for passengers, until further notice.
Abul-Awf added that the limit for fishing off the coast of Gaza was also reduced to three nautical miles due to the fall of a rocket in Beersheba, which he described as “current events.’
Maariv newspaper, for its part, confirmed that those measures were taken by Israeli army minister Avigdor Lieberman in response to the rocket attack on Beersheba, which caused damage to a house there.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Israeli army also responded by waging several aerial attacks on Gaza. Three citizens were reportedly injured in an air raid on Rafah.
Maher Abul-Awf, director of central operations at the crossings and border authority, said that the Palestinian Authority liaison office informed the Palestinian side of its decision to close the commercial Karam Abu Salem crossing and the Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing, which is used for passengers, until further notice.
Abul-Awf added that the limit for fishing off the coast of Gaza was also reduced to three nautical miles due to the fall of a rocket in Beersheba, which he described as “current events.’
Maariv newspaper, for its part, confirmed that those measures were taken by Israeli army minister Avigdor Lieberman in response to the rocket attack on Beersheba, which caused damage to a house there.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Israeli army also responded by waging several aerial attacks on Gaza. Three citizens were reportedly injured in an air raid on Rafah.
The airstrikes caused panic among school students as they were going to their schools, especially in Rafah area.
This Israeli military escalation took place after a rocket allegedly fired from Gaza hit a house in Beersheba.
An army spokesperson also claimed that another rocket from Gaza fell into the sea.
This Israeli military escalation took place after a rocket allegedly fired from Gaza hit a house in Beersheba.
An army spokesperson also claimed that another rocket from Gaza fell into the sea.
For the first time in months, a Grad rocket was fired from Gaza at around 4 am on Wednesday, hitting the yard of a house in the city of Beersheba, causing no injuries or damage.
Various Palestinian armed resistance movements rejected responsibility for the rocket.
They issued a statement stating that, “The representatives of the resistance in Gaza salute and thank the Egyptian effort to achieve our national goals and reject and reject all irresponsible attempts to thwart these efforts – including these rockets fired last night.”
They added, “The resistance does not hide behind any veil – we are always willing to claim responsibility for our actions. But we did not fire these rockets.”
In addition, Abu Mujahed, the spokesperson of the National Resistance Committees in Gaza, said “the [Israeli] occupation is coming up with excuses to attack and bomb Gaza,” and added that “the resistance will always be ready to retaliation to any Israeli offensive.”
It is worth mentioning that both Hamas and the Islamic Jihad issued similar statement denying responsibility for firing the missile, and also said that the “rockets are only meant to sabotage and foil the indirect talks, mediated by Egypt.
The resistance has restrained its fighters from firing rockets toward Israel since the weekly Great March of Return non-violent protests at the border of Gaza began on March 30th, 2018.
The rocket fired Wednesday morning was one of two fired at around the same time, according to the Israeli military. The second rocket ended up falling into the sea.
When the rocket was airborne, the Israeli alarm system sounded and Israeli residents of the city entered shelters set up for that purpose.
The Iron Dome missile defense system, which Israel set up with U.S. funding to fire air-to-air missiles at any rockets fired from Gaza, did not activate.
Israeli Defense Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, decided to close all border terminals in Gaza, and to impose further reductions on the fishing zone.
On Wednesday morning, the Israeli Air Force fired several missiles at many areas in the Gaza Strip, wounding 14 Palestinians, including six schoolchildren in Deir al-Balah, in central Gaza. The wounded were rushed to the Al-Aqsa Hospital.
The Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, said the army targeted three of its centers in several parts of the Gaza Strip.
Various Palestinian armed resistance movements rejected responsibility for the rocket.
They issued a statement stating that, “The representatives of the resistance in Gaza salute and thank the Egyptian effort to achieve our national goals and reject and reject all irresponsible attempts to thwart these efforts – including these rockets fired last night.”
They added, “The resistance does not hide behind any veil – we are always willing to claim responsibility for our actions. But we did not fire these rockets.”
In addition, Abu Mujahed, the spokesperson of the National Resistance Committees in Gaza, said “the [Israeli] occupation is coming up with excuses to attack and bomb Gaza,” and added that “the resistance will always be ready to retaliation to any Israeli offensive.”
It is worth mentioning that both Hamas and the Islamic Jihad issued similar statement denying responsibility for firing the missile, and also said that the “rockets are only meant to sabotage and foil the indirect talks, mediated by Egypt.
The resistance has restrained its fighters from firing rockets toward Israel since the weekly Great March of Return non-violent protests at the border of Gaza began on March 30th, 2018.
The rocket fired Wednesday morning was one of two fired at around the same time, according to the Israeli military. The second rocket ended up falling into the sea.
When the rocket was airborne, the Israeli alarm system sounded and Israeli residents of the city entered shelters set up for that purpose.
The Iron Dome missile defense system, which Israel set up with U.S. funding to fire air-to-air missiles at any rockets fired from Gaza, did not activate.
Israeli Defense Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, decided to close all border terminals in Gaza, and to impose further reductions on the fishing zone.
On Wednesday morning, the Israeli Air Force fired several missiles at many areas in the Gaza Strip, wounding 14 Palestinians, including six schoolchildren in Deir al-Balah, in central Gaza. The wounded were rushed to the Al-Aqsa Hospital.
The Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, said the army targeted three of its centers in several parts of the Gaza Strip.
16 oct 2018
The defense minister continues calling for military campaign in the Gaza Strip, insisting Israel has exhausted all other options; 'We are not willing to accept the level of violence we see one week after another,' he says during visit to Gaza Division.
Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman reiterated his position on Tuesday that only a "serious blow" to Hamas will put an end to the violent rioting on the Gaza border and the arson terrorism.
"We are not willing to accept the level of violence we see one week after another," the defense minister told reporters during a visit to the Gaza Division, adding "a serious blow to Hamas could bring us at least five more years of quiet."
The defense minister held a situation assessment at the Gaza Division with deputy IDF chief Maj. Gen. Aviv Kochavi, GOC Southern Command Maj. Gen. Herzi Halevi, Gaza Division commander Brig. Gen. Yehuda Fuchs, and brigade and battalion heads in the division. Later, he also met with the combat soldiers.
"The defense establishment has done everything to reach the situation before March 29, before the violence (on the border) broke out—we did this our way, by using force, by using persuasion, by cooperating with those who wanted to help," he explained. "There were all sorts of attempts to reach an arrangement led by Egypt and the UN and UN envoy. We tried all of the other ways, I didn't see any results unfortunately."
The "serious blow" he's calling for "must be a decision of the Cabinet. Unfortunately neither the defense minister nor the prime minister can make such a decision on their own."
Lieberman explained the last straw was last Friday's rioting, when "after allowing the UN to bring in four tankers of gas (into Gaza) in the morning, in the evening we got a wave of violence, at a level I don't remember."
He also quoted Hamas leaders, including Ismail Haniyeh, who said neither fuel nor salaries will stop the violence.
"Their goal is to lift the siege, which means one thing: uninterrupted free ability to bring in weapons, Hezbollah fighters, Iranians into the Gaza Strip—and we will never allow that," Lieberman said.
"They want to get salaries, fuel, all of the benefits without giving anything back, without an arrangement on the MIAs and POWs, without giving up the article in their charter that calls for the annihilation of the State of Israel, and of course without giving up the manufacturing of weapons and the digging of tunnels," the defense minister explained. "To me, there's only one formula: reconstruction in return for disarmament."
Lieberman accused Hamas of inflaming the tensions. "15,000 people don't just come of their own accord to the border fence. Hamas is bringing them, paying for the buses, Hamas members go out and call on residents to get in the buses, then they drive them there. Hamas set up tents there and is trying to turn it into an event. This isn't the spontaneous action of innocent residents; it's the Hamas members who bring people almost by order. Had Hamas not paid for the transportation, no one would've come on foot to the border," he asserted.
"They think they figured out a new trick—putting pressure on the Israeli government, on Israeli society. They think they're eroding our steadfastness, our deterrence," Lieberman added. "It's time to put an end to it."
Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman reiterated his position on Tuesday that only a "serious blow" to Hamas will put an end to the violent rioting on the Gaza border and the arson terrorism.
"We are not willing to accept the level of violence we see one week after another," the defense minister told reporters during a visit to the Gaza Division, adding "a serious blow to Hamas could bring us at least five more years of quiet."
The defense minister held a situation assessment at the Gaza Division with deputy IDF chief Maj. Gen. Aviv Kochavi, GOC Southern Command Maj. Gen. Herzi Halevi, Gaza Division commander Brig. Gen. Yehuda Fuchs, and brigade and battalion heads in the division. Later, he also met with the combat soldiers.
"The defense establishment has done everything to reach the situation before March 29, before the violence (on the border) broke out—we did this our way, by using force, by using persuasion, by cooperating with those who wanted to help," he explained. "There were all sorts of attempts to reach an arrangement led by Egypt and the UN and UN envoy. We tried all of the other ways, I didn't see any results unfortunately."
The "serious blow" he's calling for "must be a decision of the Cabinet. Unfortunately neither the defense minister nor the prime minister can make such a decision on their own."
Lieberman explained the last straw was last Friday's rioting, when "after allowing the UN to bring in four tankers of gas (into Gaza) in the morning, in the evening we got a wave of violence, at a level I don't remember."
He also quoted Hamas leaders, including Ismail Haniyeh, who said neither fuel nor salaries will stop the violence.
"Their goal is to lift the siege, which means one thing: uninterrupted free ability to bring in weapons, Hezbollah fighters, Iranians into the Gaza Strip—and we will never allow that," Lieberman said.
"They want to get salaries, fuel, all of the benefits without giving anything back, without an arrangement on the MIAs and POWs, without giving up the article in their charter that calls for the annihilation of the State of Israel, and of course without giving up the manufacturing of weapons and the digging of tunnels," the defense minister explained. "To me, there's only one formula: reconstruction in return for disarmament."
Lieberman accused Hamas of inflaming the tensions. "15,000 people don't just come of their own accord to the border fence. Hamas is bringing them, paying for the buses, Hamas members go out and call on residents to get in the buses, then they drive them there. Hamas set up tents there and is trying to turn it into an event. This isn't the spontaneous action of innocent residents; it's the Hamas members who bring people almost by order. Had Hamas not paid for the transportation, no one would've come on foot to the border," he asserted.
"They think they figured out a new trick—putting pressure on the Israeli government, on Israeli society. They think they're eroding our steadfastness, our deterrence," Lieberman added. "It's time to put an end to it."
8 oct 2018
The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Sunday that Israel is preparing for the possibility of a new military operation in the Gaza Strip, Israeli media sources revealed.
“If the reality of civil distress in Gaza is diminished, that is desirable, but that is not certain to happen, and so we are preparing militarily — that is not an empty statement,” Netanyahu said during his cabinet meeting.
Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have entered their 11th year under a suffocating siege imposed by Israel. The blockade dictates the day-to-day reality for people in Gaza, where Israel controls the borders, airspace, and waters.
Gaza's isolation has devastated its economy, impoverished much of the Strip's two million people, and left them without adequate electricity, water and health services.
Netanyahu: Army Prepping for Possible Military Assault on Gaza
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly informed his cabinet that the army is preparing for a possible military campaign against the blockaded Gaza Strip, in the case that the situation was not improved, according to Israeli media.
“If the reality of civil distress in Gaza is diminished, that is desirable, but that is not certain to happen, and so we are preparing militarily — that is not an empty statement,” Netanyahu said.
For the past six months, Palestinians have been protesting on the border of Gaza as part of the “Great Return March” in which 190 Palestinians have been killed, 64 of whom were killed on the day the US moved its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
In 2014, Israel waged a devastating 51-day military onslaught on the Gaza Strip, in which more than 2,300 Palestinians were martyred and tens of thousands injured.
“If the reality of civil distress in Gaza is diminished, that is desirable, but that is not certain to happen, and so we are preparing militarily — that is not an empty statement,” Netanyahu said during his cabinet meeting.
Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have entered their 11th year under a suffocating siege imposed by Israel. The blockade dictates the day-to-day reality for people in Gaza, where Israel controls the borders, airspace, and waters.
Gaza's isolation has devastated its economy, impoverished much of the Strip's two million people, and left them without adequate electricity, water and health services.
Netanyahu: Army Prepping for Possible Military Assault on Gaza
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly informed his cabinet that the army is preparing for a possible military campaign against the blockaded Gaza Strip, in the case that the situation was not improved, according to Israeli media.
“If the reality of civil distress in Gaza is diminished, that is desirable, but that is not certain to happen, and so we are preparing militarily — that is not an empty statement,” Netanyahu said.
For the past six months, Palestinians have been protesting on the border of Gaza as part of the “Great Return March” in which 190 Palestinians have been killed, 64 of whom were killed on the day the US moved its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
In 2014, Israel waged a devastating 51-day military onslaught on the Gaza Strip, in which more than 2,300 Palestinians were martyred and tens of thousands injured.
5 oct 2018
'We got through the High Holy Days just as we had planned, without a war erupting and while exacting a heavy price from the rioters on the Gaza border,' says defense minister, hinting at Israeli response now that holidays are over.
Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman sent a warning to Hamas on Friday morning, writing on his Twitter page that "the holidays are behind us, take that into account."
"We got through the High Holy Days just as we had planned, without a war erupting and while exacting a heavy price from the rioters on the Gaza border," Lieberman wrote. "But the holidays are now behind us, and I tell the heads of Hamas: 'Take that into account.'"
The defense minister held security consultations on Thursday with the IDF chief of staff, the head of the Military Intelligence Directorate, the coordinator of government activities in the territories (COGAT) and other senior defense officials to discuss the situation in Gaza.
"The defense minister examined the readiness of the forces around the Gaza Strip and instructed the IDF to maintain maximum alertness and be prepared for any scenario," Lieberman's office said.
IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot decided Thursday to send reinforcements to the Gaza border in the coming days.
The IDF said in a statement that the decision was made "to continue the determined policy to thwart terror attacks and prevent infiltrations into Israel in the border fence area of the Gaza Strip. The IDF is prepared and ready for a variety of scenarios and considers the Hamas terror organization responsible for everything that happens in and from the Gaza Strip."
Ahead of the expected rioting on the Gaza border on Friday, the Popular Resistance Committees in the strip threatened Thursday that "blood will be met with blood" and that "We will no longer tolerate the killing of protesters."
The Al-Quds Brigades, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad's military wing, held a military parade in the Gaza Strip Thursday, displaying what was either real or dummy rockets.
A 15-year-old Palestinian teen was shot dead Wednesday evening during clashes between Palestinian rioters and IDF forces near the Erez border crossing in the northern Gaza Strip.
Over a 1,000 Palestinians protested in several different spots along the border fence, throwing stones at IDF forces and setting fire to tires.
The Israeli troops responded with crowd dispersal measures, with the IDF saying the soldiers "are acting in accordance with the rules of engagement."
Meanwhile, a Hamas delegation headed by the terror group's deputy leader Saleh al-Arouri returned Wednesday after four days of discussions in Cairo with top Egyptian intelligence officials.
The discussions revolved around both the reconciliation with Fatah—a rival Palestinian faction led by Mahmoud Abbas—and an arrangement in Gaza, which would include a ceasefire agreement with Israel. It is unclear what the outcome of these discussions was.
In recent weeks, there has been a spike in Palestinian rioting in Gaza, as well as in the launch of incendiary balloons and kites.
On Monday, some 4,000 Palestinians rioted in northern Gaza, throwing stones and Molotov cocktails and launching fireworks at Israeli forces, who responded with crowd dispersal measures.
Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman sent a warning to Hamas on Friday morning, writing on his Twitter page that "the holidays are behind us, take that into account."
"We got through the High Holy Days just as we had planned, without a war erupting and while exacting a heavy price from the rioters on the Gaza border," Lieberman wrote. "But the holidays are now behind us, and I tell the heads of Hamas: 'Take that into account.'"
The defense minister held security consultations on Thursday with the IDF chief of staff, the head of the Military Intelligence Directorate, the coordinator of government activities in the territories (COGAT) and other senior defense officials to discuss the situation in Gaza.
"The defense minister examined the readiness of the forces around the Gaza Strip and instructed the IDF to maintain maximum alertness and be prepared for any scenario," Lieberman's office said.
IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot decided Thursday to send reinforcements to the Gaza border in the coming days.
The IDF said in a statement that the decision was made "to continue the determined policy to thwart terror attacks and prevent infiltrations into Israel in the border fence area of the Gaza Strip. The IDF is prepared and ready for a variety of scenarios and considers the Hamas terror organization responsible for everything that happens in and from the Gaza Strip."
Ahead of the expected rioting on the Gaza border on Friday, the Popular Resistance Committees in the strip threatened Thursday that "blood will be met with blood" and that "We will no longer tolerate the killing of protesters."
The Al-Quds Brigades, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad's military wing, held a military parade in the Gaza Strip Thursday, displaying what was either real or dummy rockets.
A 15-year-old Palestinian teen was shot dead Wednesday evening during clashes between Palestinian rioters and IDF forces near the Erez border crossing in the northern Gaza Strip.
Over a 1,000 Palestinians protested in several different spots along the border fence, throwing stones at IDF forces and setting fire to tires.
The Israeli troops responded with crowd dispersal measures, with the IDF saying the soldiers "are acting in accordance with the rules of engagement."
Meanwhile, a Hamas delegation headed by the terror group's deputy leader Saleh al-Arouri returned Wednesday after four days of discussions in Cairo with top Egyptian intelligence officials.
The discussions revolved around both the reconciliation with Fatah—a rival Palestinian faction led by Mahmoud Abbas—and an arrangement in Gaza, which would include a ceasefire agreement with Israel. It is unclear what the outcome of these discussions was.
In recent weeks, there has been a spike in Palestinian rioting in Gaza, as well as in the launch of incendiary balloons and kites.
On Monday, some 4,000 Palestinians rioted in northern Gaza, throwing stones and Molotov cocktails and launching fireworks at Israeli forces, who responded with crowd dispersal measures.
16 sept 2018
Israel’s Internal Security Minister Gilad Erdan called for assassinating Hamas leaders in the besieged Gaza Strip to quell anti-occupation protests at the eastern borders.
Israel’s Channel 7 quoted Erdan as stating that Israel might increase secret assassinations in case Hamas continues to fuel anti-occupation protests on borderlands with Gaza.
Erdan vowed that the Israeli army will step up aggressions against Hamas no matter the cost.
Sometime earlier, Israeli lawmaker Haim Jelin called for launching attacks against Hamas resistance fighters so as to force the group to yield in to a long-term ceasefire in response to an alleged incendiary balloon dropped at his home in Kibbutz settler community, near Gaza’s border area.
Israel’s Channel 7 quoted Erdan as stating that Israel might increase secret assassinations in case Hamas continues to fuel anti-occupation protests on borderlands with Gaza.
Erdan vowed that the Israeli army will step up aggressions against Hamas no matter the cost.
Sometime earlier, Israeli lawmaker Haim Jelin called for launching attacks against Hamas resistance fighters so as to force the group to yield in to a long-term ceasefire in response to an alleged incendiary balloon dropped at his home in Kibbutz settler community, near Gaza’s border area.
16 aug 2018
Lebanese news channel Al Mayadeen reported on Thursday that the coming 48 hours will be crucial regarding the awaited truce between Israel and Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip.
Sources told Al Mayadeen that Head of the Egyptian Intelligence, Abbas Kamel, arrived into Israeli Tel Aviv on Wednesday evening heading an Egyptian security delegation to finalize a one-year ceasefire agreement with Israel before Friday.
Israeli official TV channel reported that Kamel might be visiting Ramallah City in the central West Bank in an attempt to convince Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to "bless" or praise the truce.
Al Mayadeen added that a Fatah movement delegation would not be taking part in coming talks in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, for multiple reasons.
Reports also included that Qatar would be paying the salaries of officials in the Gaza Strip together with Egypt, in addition to paying electricity bills of Gaza in cooperation with Israel.
The deal would also be including a maritime route between the Gaza Strip and Cyprus under Israeli supervision.
Sources told Al Mayadeen that Head of the Egyptian Intelligence, Abbas Kamel, arrived into Israeli Tel Aviv on Wednesday evening heading an Egyptian security delegation to finalize a one-year ceasefire agreement with Israel before Friday.
Israeli official TV channel reported that Kamel might be visiting Ramallah City in the central West Bank in an attempt to convince Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to "bless" or praise the truce.
Al Mayadeen added that a Fatah movement delegation would not be taking part in coming talks in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, for multiple reasons.
Reports also included that Qatar would be paying the salaries of officials in the Gaza Strip together with Egypt, in addition to paying electricity bills of Gaza in cooperation with Israel.
The deal would also be including a maritime route between the Gaza Strip and Cyprus under Israeli supervision.
12 aug 2018
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claims that the Israeli army is in the midst of a comprehensive military confrontation with the Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip.
He also said that the demonstration by the Arab Monitoring Committee against the Nation-State Law is conclusive proof of the challenges facing Israel.
“I will not reveal the operational plans of the army,” Netanyahu said, according to the PNN, during Sunday’s session with Likud ministers. “But, I can confirm the plans are ready and present for any scenario.”
“With the escalation on the southern front, there is an exchange of blows and it will not end in a single blow,” Netanyahu continued. “Our demand is clear, a complete ceasefire and we will not accept less.”
Encouraging incitement among the Arab masses in the country, Netanyahu talked about the demonstrations to remove the Nation-State Law, saying that the protestors want to turn Israel into a Palestinian State.
“Flags of the Palestine Liberation Organization have been raised in the heart of Tel Aviv and we have heard calls: ‘in blood and fire we need you, Palestine.’ Now, it is clearer than ever that the Nation-State Law is necessary to ensure Israel’s future as a Jewish state.”
Netanyahu’s remarks came before the cabinet meeting on security and political affairs, which will be held this afternoon. The meeting is in order to discuss military escalation on the southern front and to discuss the ceasefire proposal for the Palestinian factions in Gaza.
The Israeli military recommended that it continue its operations and stand ready for any emergency on the southern front, in addition to the continued assault onthe so-called “cells” that fire kites and balloons, at the Gaza envelope.
He also said that the demonstration by the Arab Monitoring Committee against the Nation-State Law is conclusive proof of the challenges facing Israel.
“I will not reveal the operational plans of the army,” Netanyahu said, according to the PNN, during Sunday’s session with Likud ministers. “But, I can confirm the plans are ready and present for any scenario.”
“With the escalation on the southern front, there is an exchange of blows and it will not end in a single blow,” Netanyahu continued. “Our demand is clear, a complete ceasefire and we will not accept less.”
Encouraging incitement among the Arab masses in the country, Netanyahu talked about the demonstrations to remove the Nation-State Law, saying that the protestors want to turn Israel into a Palestinian State.
“Flags of the Palestine Liberation Organization have been raised in the heart of Tel Aviv and we have heard calls: ‘in blood and fire we need you, Palestine.’ Now, it is clearer than ever that the Nation-State Law is necessary to ensure Israel’s future as a Jewish state.”
Netanyahu’s remarks came before the cabinet meeting on security and political affairs, which will be held this afternoon. The meeting is in order to discuss military escalation on the southern front and to discuss the ceasefire proposal for the Palestinian factions in Gaza.
The Israeli military recommended that it continue its operations and stand ready for any emergency on the southern front, in addition to the continued assault onthe so-called “cells” that fire kites and balloons, at the Gaza envelope.
10 aug 2018
A tentative clam has been reigning over the Gaza Strip since 10:45 pm local time after a ceasefire agreement was reached on Thursday night between the Palestinian resistance factions and Israel.
The agreement was brokered by Egypt and the UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, who led efforts to prevent another war. Both have repeatedly called for the restoration of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in previous months.
While Israeli officials denied the existence of a ceasefire, Israel’s Channel 10 quoted an Israeli diplomat as saying that there was a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, which would go into effect at midnight.
Israel had launched scores of airstrikes on Gaza over the past day provoking the Palestinian resistance to retaliate by firing a spate of rockets and mortars at Israeli military targets and settlements.
A surge in Israeli airstrikes and Palestinian counterattacks in recent weeks prompted the UN and Egypt to try to broker a truce to prevent another all-out conflict.
Despite those truce efforts, Israel escalated its aerial attacks on Gaza on Wednesday night and Thursday, striking more than 150 targets in Gaza and forcing the Palestinian resistance to respond
One of Israel’s air raids on Wednesday claimed the lives of three Palestinian civilians in Gaza, including a pregnant mother and her one-year-old daughter.
The agreement was brokered by Egypt and the UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, who led efforts to prevent another war. Both have repeatedly called for the restoration of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in previous months.
While Israeli officials denied the existence of a ceasefire, Israel’s Channel 10 quoted an Israeli diplomat as saying that there was a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, which would go into effect at midnight.
Israel had launched scores of airstrikes on Gaza over the past day provoking the Palestinian resistance to retaliate by firing a spate of rockets and mortars at Israeli military targets and settlements.
A surge in Israeli airstrikes and Palestinian counterattacks in recent weeks prompted the UN and Egypt to try to broker a truce to prevent another all-out conflict.
Despite those truce efforts, Israel escalated its aerial attacks on Gaza on Wednesday night and Thursday, striking more than 150 targets in Gaza and forcing the Palestinian resistance to respond
One of Israel’s air raids on Wednesday claimed the lives of three Palestinian civilians in Gaza, including a pregnant mother and her one-year-old daughter.