9 aug 2018
"Palestinian factions will respect calm as long as Israel does," he added.
Earlier in the day, Hamas deputy chief in Gaza Khalil al-Hayya said efforts to reach a truce with the Israeli regime were at “an advanced stage.” He added that the resistance movement would insist on its position that the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip has to be lifted as part of any talks with Tel Aviv.
The development comes after two days of Israeli aerial raids against at least 150 positions in Gaza.
The regime in Tel Aviv says the airstrikes were launched after a long-range rocket fired from the Palestinian coastal sliver hit an uninhabited area to the south of the occupied Palestinian territories. Hamas has claimed responsibility for the rocket attack, stressing that they were in retaliation for the killing of two Palestinians by Israeli forces.
According to medical officials, the Israeli regime’s airstrikes killed Enas Khammash, a pregnant Gazan woman, and her 18-month-old daughter Bayan, as well as another Palestinian.
Hundreds of Palestinian mourners took part in the funeral for the woman and the baby on Thursday in the central Gaza town of Deir al-Balah.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas earlier urged the United Nations to stop Israel’s latest aggression against Gaza, which has been under a crippling Israeli siege for the past decade.
Egypt and the UN intervened to broker the ceasefire and prevent Israel from launching another war on Gaza after tensions escalated in recent weeks.
Israel has killed more than 150 people since March when Palestinians began to stage protests on the border to demand an end to the blockade and the return of the Palestinians to the occupied territories.
Report: Ceasefire reached between Israel and Hamas
Truce mediated by Egypt goes into effect at 10:45pm on Thursday evening, after 24 hours of hostilities, with nearly 200 rockets fired from Gaza at Israel and the IAF attacking over 150 targets in the strip; Gaza source confirms ceasefire, Israeli sources deny it.
Israel and Hamas have reportedly reached a ceasefire under Egyptian mediation, which went into effect at 10:45pm Thursday, according Al Jazeera.
A source in Gaza confirmed the ceasefire to Ynet, while two Israeli officials denied a truce had been reached, in line with Israel's policy of ambiguity.
An Israeli official said Hamas has been asking for a ceasefire since Thursday morning, but the IDF continued attacking significant targets.
Hamas' Al-Aqsa TV channel reported late Thursday that a ceasefire has taken hold "on the basis of mutual calm." It said the deal was mediated by Egypt and other regional players.
A senior Hamas official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said the deal would formally go into effect at midnight.
He said the agreement merely ends the latest two-day burst of violence between Israel and Hamas and added that Egypt would continue efforts to broker a long-term cease-fire.
Over 180 rockets have been fired from Gaza over the past 24 hours, with the IDF retaliating with heavy bombardments in the strip, destroying a 5-story building, we well as several terror tunnels, military complexes and other targets.
At least seven Israelis were wounded from the Gaza rockets, with one landing as far as Be'er Sheva. Mortar shells and rockets also hit the entrance of a residential home in Sderot, a house in Hof Ashkelon Regional Council and a building in an industrial zone of the Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council. The Iron Dome intercepted at least 30 rockets.
Palestinian officials said at least three people were killed in the Israeli attacks: Hamas fighter Ali Ghandour, 23-year-old Enas Khamash, who was pregnant, and her 18-month-old daughter Bayan. At least five civilians were wounded. Gaza's Health Ministry said the militant and the civilians were killed in separate incidents.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held security consultations with Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, IDF chief Lt. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot, Shin Bet Director Nadav Argaman and head of the National Security Council Meir Ben Shabat ar the Kirya IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv on Thursday afternoon.
Following the consultations, a government official said that "Hamas has suffered a serious blow. Israel will continue acting with strength."
According to the official, the prime minister and defense minister instructed the IDF to prepare for any scenario.
Channel Ten said Netanyahu delayed the Security Cabinet meeting that followed these consultations by two hours to allow the Egyptians to press forward with their mediation work.
After a four-hour meeting, the Cabinet issued a short statement, saying it had directed the army "to continue taking strong action against the terrorist elements." It did not elaborate.
Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, a military spokesman, said Israel had "ground troops that are ready to deploy. We are reinforcing the southern command and Gaza division." He wouldn't comment on Israeli media reports of troops preparing for a possible ground operation.
Israel and Hamas have fought three wars since the Islamic militant group seized control of Gaza in 2007. Despite the animosity, the enemies have signaled—through their contacts with Egypt—that they want to avoid another war.
Hamas is demanding the lifting of an Israeli-Egyptian border blockade that has devastated Gaza's economy, while Israel wants an end to rocket fire, as well as recent border protests and launches of incendiary balloons, and the return of the remains of two dead soldiers and two Israelis believed to be alive and held by Hamas.
At the United Nations, Israel's ambassador, Danny Danon, urged the secretary-general and UN Security Council to condemn Hamas militants for what he called "the unprovoked terrorist attack" on southern Israel.
Nickolay Mladenov, the UN Mideast envoy, said he was "deeply alarmed" and appealed for calm. He said the situation "can rapidly deteriorate with devastating consequences for all people."
In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said US officials were concerned by the situation in Gaza.
"Overall, we condemn the launching of missile attacks into Israel, and call for an end to the destructive violence. We've seen reports that 180 or so rocket attacks have taken place, shot from Gaza into Israel, and we fully support Israel's right to defend itself, and to take actions to prevent provocations of that nature," Nauert said.
Tension along the Israel-Gaza border has escalated since late March, when Hamas launched what would become regular mass protests along Israel's perimeter fence with Gaza. The protests have been aimed in part at trying to break the blockade.
Israel and Hamas have engaged in several bouts of fighting this month. The latest round erupted Tuesday, when the Israeli military struck a Hamas military post in Gaza after it said militants fired on Israeli troops on the border. Hamas said two of its fighters were killed after taking part in a gunfire parade inside a militant camp.
The incident occurred while a group of senior Hamas leaders from abroad were visiting Gaza to discuss the ceases-fire efforts with local leaders.
A top Hamas official told The Associated Press that the group waited for the delegation to leave Gaza before responding with rocket fire late Wednesday.
Earlier in the day, Hamas deputy chief in Gaza Khalil al-Hayya said efforts to reach a truce with the Israeli regime were at “an advanced stage.” He added that the resistance movement would insist on its position that the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip has to be lifted as part of any talks with Tel Aviv.
The development comes after two days of Israeli aerial raids against at least 150 positions in Gaza.
The regime in Tel Aviv says the airstrikes were launched after a long-range rocket fired from the Palestinian coastal sliver hit an uninhabited area to the south of the occupied Palestinian territories. Hamas has claimed responsibility for the rocket attack, stressing that they were in retaliation for the killing of two Palestinians by Israeli forces.
According to medical officials, the Israeli regime’s airstrikes killed Enas Khammash, a pregnant Gazan woman, and her 18-month-old daughter Bayan, as well as another Palestinian.
Hundreds of Palestinian mourners took part in the funeral for the woman and the baby on Thursday in the central Gaza town of Deir al-Balah.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas earlier urged the United Nations to stop Israel’s latest aggression against Gaza, which has been under a crippling Israeli siege for the past decade.
Egypt and the UN intervened to broker the ceasefire and prevent Israel from launching another war on Gaza after tensions escalated in recent weeks.
Israel has killed more than 150 people since March when Palestinians began to stage protests on the border to demand an end to the blockade and the return of the Palestinians to the occupied territories.
Report: Ceasefire reached between Israel and Hamas
Truce mediated by Egypt goes into effect at 10:45pm on Thursday evening, after 24 hours of hostilities, with nearly 200 rockets fired from Gaza at Israel and the IAF attacking over 150 targets in the strip; Gaza source confirms ceasefire, Israeli sources deny it.
Israel and Hamas have reportedly reached a ceasefire under Egyptian mediation, which went into effect at 10:45pm Thursday, according Al Jazeera.
A source in Gaza confirmed the ceasefire to Ynet, while two Israeli officials denied a truce had been reached, in line with Israel's policy of ambiguity.
An Israeli official said Hamas has been asking for a ceasefire since Thursday morning, but the IDF continued attacking significant targets.
Hamas' Al-Aqsa TV channel reported late Thursday that a ceasefire has taken hold "on the basis of mutual calm." It said the deal was mediated by Egypt and other regional players.
A senior Hamas official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said the deal would formally go into effect at midnight.
He said the agreement merely ends the latest two-day burst of violence between Israel and Hamas and added that Egypt would continue efforts to broker a long-term cease-fire.
Over 180 rockets have been fired from Gaza over the past 24 hours, with the IDF retaliating with heavy bombardments in the strip, destroying a 5-story building, we well as several terror tunnels, military complexes and other targets.
At least seven Israelis were wounded from the Gaza rockets, with one landing as far as Be'er Sheva. Mortar shells and rockets also hit the entrance of a residential home in Sderot, a house in Hof Ashkelon Regional Council and a building in an industrial zone of the Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council. The Iron Dome intercepted at least 30 rockets.
Palestinian officials said at least three people were killed in the Israeli attacks: Hamas fighter Ali Ghandour, 23-year-old Enas Khamash, who was pregnant, and her 18-month-old daughter Bayan. At least five civilians were wounded. Gaza's Health Ministry said the militant and the civilians were killed in separate incidents.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held security consultations with Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, IDF chief Lt. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot, Shin Bet Director Nadav Argaman and head of the National Security Council Meir Ben Shabat ar the Kirya IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv on Thursday afternoon.
Following the consultations, a government official said that "Hamas has suffered a serious blow. Israel will continue acting with strength."
According to the official, the prime minister and defense minister instructed the IDF to prepare for any scenario.
Channel Ten said Netanyahu delayed the Security Cabinet meeting that followed these consultations by two hours to allow the Egyptians to press forward with their mediation work.
After a four-hour meeting, the Cabinet issued a short statement, saying it had directed the army "to continue taking strong action against the terrorist elements." It did not elaborate.
Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, a military spokesman, said Israel had "ground troops that are ready to deploy. We are reinforcing the southern command and Gaza division." He wouldn't comment on Israeli media reports of troops preparing for a possible ground operation.
Israel and Hamas have fought three wars since the Islamic militant group seized control of Gaza in 2007. Despite the animosity, the enemies have signaled—through their contacts with Egypt—that they want to avoid another war.
Hamas is demanding the lifting of an Israeli-Egyptian border blockade that has devastated Gaza's economy, while Israel wants an end to rocket fire, as well as recent border protests and launches of incendiary balloons, and the return of the remains of two dead soldiers and two Israelis believed to be alive and held by Hamas.
At the United Nations, Israel's ambassador, Danny Danon, urged the secretary-general and UN Security Council to condemn Hamas militants for what he called "the unprovoked terrorist attack" on southern Israel.
Nickolay Mladenov, the UN Mideast envoy, said he was "deeply alarmed" and appealed for calm. He said the situation "can rapidly deteriorate with devastating consequences for all people."
In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said US officials were concerned by the situation in Gaza.
"Overall, we condemn the launching of missile attacks into Israel, and call for an end to the destructive violence. We've seen reports that 180 or so rocket attacks have taken place, shot from Gaza into Israel, and we fully support Israel's right to defend itself, and to take actions to prevent provocations of that nature," Nauert said.
Tension along the Israel-Gaza border has escalated since late March, when Hamas launched what would become regular mass protests along Israel's perimeter fence with Gaza. The protests have been aimed in part at trying to break the blockade.
Israel and Hamas have engaged in several bouts of fighting this month. The latest round erupted Tuesday, when the Israeli military struck a Hamas military post in Gaza after it said militants fired on Israeli troops on the border. Hamas said two of its fighters were killed after taking part in a gunfire parade inside a militant camp.
The incident occurred while a group of senior Hamas leaders from abroad were visiting Gaza to discuss the ceases-fire efforts with local leaders.
A top Hamas official told The Associated Press that the group waited for the delegation to leave Gaza before responding with rocket fire late Wednesday.
The United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nikolay Mladenov, expressed his deep concern concerning the escalation in the besieged Gaza Strip.
Nikolay Mladenov said in a statement issued on early Thursday, "I am deeply alarmed by the recent escalation of violence between Gaza and Israel."
He stressed "for months I have been warning that the humanitarian, security and political crisis in Gaza risk a devastating conflict that nobody wants. The UN has engaged with Egypt and all concerned parties in an unprecedented effort to avoid such a development."
He added that "if the current escalation however is not contained immediately, the situation can rapidly deteriorate with devastating consequences for all people."
Mladenov also mentioned that he will continue working on addressing all humanitarian issues in Gaza.
Nikolay Mladenov said in a statement issued on early Thursday, "I am deeply alarmed by the recent escalation of violence between Gaza and Israel."
He stressed "for months I have been warning that the humanitarian, security and political crisis in Gaza risk a devastating conflict that nobody wants. The UN has engaged with Egypt and all concerned parties in an unprecedented effort to avoid such a development."
He added that "if the current escalation however is not contained immediately, the situation can rapidly deteriorate with devastating consequences for all people."
Mladenov also mentioned that he will continue working on addressing all humanitarian issues in Gaza.
In the most significant escalation along the southern border since Operation Protective Edge, Hamas militants launch more than 80 rockets into Israeli territory since midnight on Thursday; Foreign worker seriously wounded in Eshkol as a result of rocket fire from the strip; Rocket-alert siren sounded in Ashkelon for the first time since the start of current escalation.
More than 80 rockets have been launched by Hamas into the Israeli territory since midnight on Thursday in the most significant escalation since Operation Protective Edge four years ago and for the first time since the beginning of the current escalation, rocket-alert siren sounded in the southern city of Ashkelon.
The IDF has also said it intends to deploy more Iron Dome batteries in southern Israel following assessments that Hamas might expand the range of rocket fire.
Earlier, a foreign worker from Thailand was seriously injured as a result of a rocket that hit The Eshkol Regional Council. Professor Yochanan Pfizer, deputy director of Soroka Medical Center, said that the injured woman was suffering from shrapnel wounds to her stomach.
In the meantime, IAF bombed the Gaza Strip incessantly throughout the night with dozens of fighter jets striking more than 120 Hamas targets.
Overall, since the beginning of the current escalation more than 150 rockets have launches into the Gaza border communities, as well as the cities of Sderot and Ashkelon, with Iron Dome intercepting 25 of them.
One senior IDF source asserted that the escalating tensions that have beset the Gaza border might lead to a broader military operation in the Gaza Strip.
"We are closer to a wide scale operation in Gaza than we’ve ever been. We will send reinforcements to the south. If it becomes necessary, the residents of the Gaza border communities will be evacuated,” added the source.
Hamas responded to the IDF claims by threatening Israel with further violence.
"The increasing bombardment of Gaza and the harming of our civilians has been pre-planned … Israel will bear responsibility for the consequences and pay for its crimes … Israel will not succeed in imposing any equation on us," said the official statement, released by the terror group.
More than 80 rockets have been launched by Hamas into the Israeli territory since midnight on Thursday in the most significant escalation since Operation Protective Edge four years ago and for the first time since the beginning of the current escalation, rocket-alert siren sounded in the southern city of Ashkelon.
The IDF has also said it intends to deploy more Iron Dome batteries in southern Israel following assessments that Hamas might expand the range of rocket fire.
Earlier, a foreign worker from Thailand was seriously injured as a result of a rocket that hit The Eshkol Regional Council. Professor Yochanan Pfizer, deputy director of Soroka Medical Center, said that the injured woman was suffering from shrapnel wounds to her stomach.
In the meantime, IAF bombed the Gaza Strip incessantly throughout the night with dozens of fighter jets striking more than 120 Hamas targets.
Overall, since the beginning of the current escalation more than 150 rockets have launches into the Gaza border communities, as well as the cities of Sderot and Ashkelon, with Iron Dome intercepting 25 of them.
One senior IDF source asserted that the escalating tensions that have beset the Gaza border might lead to a broader military operation in the Gaza Strip.
"We are closer to a wide scale operation in Gaza than we’ve ever been. We will send reinforcements to the south. If it becomes necessary, the residents of the Gaza border communities will be evacuated,” added the source.
Hamas responded to the IDF claims by threatening Israel with further violence.
"The increasing bombardment of Gaza and the harming of our civilians has been pre-planned … Israel will bear responsibility for the consequences and pay for its crimes … Israel will not succeed in imposing any equation on us," said the official statement, released by the terror group.
Despite the killing of a pregnant woman and her baby by an Israeli airstrike on their home Wednesday night, Israeli officials issued a statement later that night saying that they planned to continue the current escalation in Gaza with no end in sight.
The Israeli military, one of the most powerful armies on the planet, launched a full-scale military assault on the besieged coastal Strip Wednesday night, dropping at least 140 bombs, according to the Israeli military spokesperson.
The Palestinian population of Gaza, which includes more than one million children in its total population of two million, has no military.
The ad hoc resistance groups that sprung up in recent years in Gaza to counter the Israeli military occupation of Palestinian land fired dozens of shells across the Israeli-militarized border in response. Israelis living in the town of Sderot, constructed provocatively close to the Gaza-Israel border, rushed to underground shelters. Nine were lightly injured.
In addition to the mother, daughter and unborn baby that were killed Wednesday, Israeli forces also wounded more than a dozen Palestinians by dropping bombs from drones and planes. Several were wounded seriously and taken to intensive care units at the hospital.
The Israeli military, one of the most powerful armies on the planet, launched a full-scale military assault on the besieged coastal Strip Wednesday night, dropping at least 140 bombs, according to the Israeli military spokesperson.
The Palestinian population of Gaza, which includes more than one million children in its total population of two million, has no military.
The ad hoc resistance groups that sprung up in recent years in Gaza to counter the Israeli military occupation of Palestinian land fired dozens of shells across the Israeli-militarized border in response. Israelis living in the town of Sderot, constructed provocatively close to the Gaza-Israel border, rushed to underground shelters. Nine were lightly injured.
In addition to the mother, daughter and unborn baby that were killed Wednesday, Israeli forces also wounded more than a dozen Palestinians by dropping bombs from drones and planes. Several were wounded seriously and taken to intensive care units at the hospital.
The Israeli occupation army at dawn Thursday launched a spate of renewed air raids on different areas of the Gaza Strip.
The Palestinian Information Center (PIC) in Gaza said that the airstrikes targeted sites belonging to the Palestinian resistance in northern and western Gaza, Khan Younis, and al-Shuja’iyya neighborhood.
In response, the Palestinian resistance fired several projectiles at Israeli settlements adjacent to Gaza as well as military posts.
The Hebrew media claimed that one rocket exploded in Eshkol regional council in the Negev leading some settlers to suffer injuries, including one seriously. video
The Palestinian Information Center (PIC) in Gaza said that the airstrikes targeted sites belonging to the Palestinian resistance in northern and western Gaza, Khan Younis, and al-Shuja’iyya neighborhood.
In response, the Palestinian resistance fired several projectiles at Israeli settlements adjacent to Gaza as well as military posts.
The Hebrew media claimed that one rocket exploded in Eshkol regional council in the Negev leading some settlers to suffer injuries, including one seriously. video
8 aug 2018
addition to a number of missiles fired into farmlands east of Abasan town, east of Khan Younis, in southern Gaza.
The Israeli air force also fired a missile into an area where many Palestinians were picnicking, on the shore of Jabalia, in northern Gaza, causing damage but not injuries.
Furthermore, the Israeli air force fired missiles into areas near the Gaza Sea Port, west of Gaza city, causing serious damage. The soldiers also fired two missiles into a resistance-run center, in the location of the former Netzarim colony, in central Gaza.
At least five more missiles were fired by the army into a Palestinian agricultural land, and a center run by the al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas, west of Jabalia refugee camp, in northern Gaza, and several missiles into another center in Rafah, in southern Gaza. video
The Israeli army said it bombed several Hamas targets in Gaza, reportedly when six Israelis were injured in the Sderot settlement, in the Negev, “after eight shells were fired from Gaza. video
Israeli Ynet News said that one Israeli man, aged 23, was injured by shrapnel in his leg, and added that “two pregnant women in addition to a man, 42 years of age, were treated for shock,” before being moved to Barzilai Hospital. video video video
It alleged that Hamas fighters fired live rounds at “civil engineering equipment”, used as part of a “anti-tunnel barrier’” which is being built along the barrier with Gaza, causing damage, before the army fire a tank shell at a Hamas post.
Hamas said its fighters fired shells into nearby army posts, in retaliation to Israeli bombardment of the coastal region, and added that it has no Interest in escalation.
Hamas leaders said that they are holding talks with Egypt, to restore calm to the region, and to avoid a potentially serious military escalation.
For its part, the Israeli army said it raised the alert level along the border with Gaza, after noticing that Hamas fighters were evacuated from their posts along the border, a move that Hamas said was meant to ensure their safety, and avoid further escalation, while the army considered it as part of preparation for potential escalation.
On Tuesday, the Israeli army killed two Hamas fighters, identified as Ahmad Abdullah Morjan, 23, and Abdul-Hafeth Mohammad Seelawi, 23, in northern Gaza.
The Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, issued a statement denouncing the Israeli assassination of two of its fighters, in northern Gaza, and holding Israel accountable for any future escalation.
It stated that the two fighters were part of a military training in “Asqalan” center, one of its training locations in northern Gaza, and that many Palestinians, including political leaders of Hamas, were in attendance.
Al-Qasam issued a video of the two fighters during firing at fixed posts, and not at the army or any Israeli side, before they were targeted and killed by the Israeli soldiers.
The Israeli air force also fired a missile into an area where many Palestinians were picnicking, on the shore of Jabalia, in northern Gaza, causing damage but not injuries.
Furthermore, the Israeli air force fired missiles into areas near the Gaza Sea Port, west of Gaza city, causing serious damage. The soldiers also fired two missiles into a resistance-run center, in the location of the former Netzarim colony, in central Gaza.
At least five more missiles were fired by the army into a Palestinian agricultural land, and a center run by the al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas, west of Jabalia refugee camp, in northern Gaza, and several missiles into another center in Rafah, in southern Gaza. video
The Israeli army said it bombed several Hamas targets in Gaza, reportedly when six Israelis were injured in the Sderot settlement, in the Negev, “after eight shells were fired from Gaza. video
Israeli Ynet News said that one Israeli man, aged 23, was injured by shrapnel in his leg, and added that “two pregnant women in addition to a man, 42 years of age, were treated for shock,” before being moved to Barzilai Hospital. video video video
It alleged that Hamas fighters fired live rounds at “civil engineering equipment”, used as part of a “anti-tunnel barrier’” which is being built along the barrier with Gaza, causing damage, before the army fire a tank shell at a Hamas post.
Hamas said its fighters fired shells into nearby army posts, in retaliation to Israeli bombardment of the coastal region, and added that it has no Interest in escalation.
Hamas leaders said that they are holding talks with Egypt, to restore calm to the region, and to avoid a potentially serious military escalation.
For its part, the Israeli army said it raised the alert level along the border with Gaza, after noticing that Hamas fighters were evacuated from their posts along the border, a move that Hamas said was meant to ensure their safety, and avoid further escalation, while the army considered it as part of preparation for potential escalation.
On Tuesday, the Israeli army killed two Hamas fighters, identified as Ahmad Abdullah Morjan, 23, and Abdul-Hafeth Mohammad Seelawi, 23, in northern Gaza.
The Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, issued a statement denouncing the Israeli assassination of two of its fighters, in northern Gaza, and holding Israel accountable for any future escalation.
It stated that the two fighters were part of a military training in “Asqalan” center, one of its training locations in northern Gaza, and that many Palestinians, including political leaders of Hamas, were in attendance.
Al-Qasam issued a video of the two fighters during firing at fixed posts, and not at the army or any Israeli side, before they were targeted and killed by the Israeli soldiers.
26 july 2018
The Hamas movement launched nine rockets and mortar shells from the besieged Gaza Strip towards Israel on predawn Thursday.
According to Hebrew-language news outlets, while sirens sounded in the Gaza-Israeli border communities, the Iron Dome missile defense system intercepted one of the launched rockets.
Following the killing of three Palestinians in Gaza, the Israeli army demanded that Israeli settlers of the Gaza-Israeli border communities remain in bomb shelters.
The Hamas movement military wing announced that it would strongly respond to the Israeli airstrikes and were committed to shelling Israel.
Spokesperson of the Hamas movement, Fawzi Barhum, said that "the amount of Israeli escalation against Gaza reflect the real intentions of the occupation to kill..."
Barhum said that the movement cannot remain silent towards Israeli actions and crimes; "it is our duty defend and protect our people."
Meanwhile, sources told Ma'an that Israeli naval forces also opened fire on Palestinian fishing boats as they were working off the coast of the southern Gaza Strip.
No injuries were reported.
The Israeli army regularly detains and opens fire at unarmed Palestinian fishermen, shepherds, and farmers along the border areas if they approach the unilaterally declared buffer zone.
In addition, regarding the recent events in Gaza and Syria, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held security meetings overnight with Israeli Defense Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, Chief of General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, Gadi Eizenkot, and National Security Council Chairman, Meir Ben-Shabbat.
According to Hebrew-language news outlets, while sirens sounded in the Gaza-Israeli border communities, the Iron Dome missile defense system intercepted one of the launched rockets.
Following the killing of three Palestinians in Gaza, the Israeli army demanded that Israeli settlers of the Gaza-Israeli border communities remain in bomb shelters.
The Hamas movement military wing announced that it would strongly respond to the Israeli airstrikes and were committed to shelling Israel.
Spokesperson of the Hamas movement, Fawzi Barhum, said that "the amount of Israeli escalation against Gaza reflect the real intentions of the occupation to kill..."
Barhum said that the movement cannot remain silent towards Israeli actions and crimes; "it is our duty defend and protect our people."
Meanwhile, sources told Ma'an that Israeli naval forces also opened fire on Palestinian fishing boats as they were working off the coast of the southern Gaza Strip.
No injuries were reported.
The Israeli army regularly detains and opens fire at unarmed Palestinian fishermen, shepherds, and farmers along the border areas if they approach the unilaterally declared buffer zone.
In addition, regarding the recent events in Gaza and Syria, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held security meetings overnight with Israeli Defense Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, Chief of General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, Gadi Eizenkot, and National Security Council Chairman, Meir Ben-Shabbat.
Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, has put its forces and units on high alert in all areas of the Gaza Strip after three of its fighters were killed in an Israeli artillery attack on a resistance post.
In a statement released on Thursday morning, al-Qassam Brigades urged all resistance factions participating in the joint operations room to raise their military readiness to the highest level.
The Brigades warned that the Israeli occupation state would pay dearly for its persistence in committing daily crimes against the Palestinian people and their resistance.
Three resistance fighters from al-Qassam Brigades were killed and another one was injured when the Israeli army launched an artillery attack on their observation post east of Gaza city.
Later, one Israeli soldier was reportedly wounded by Palestinian gunfire east of Gaza.
25 july 2018 Israeli Army Kills Three Palestinians In Gaza
20 july 2018 Israeli Army Kills A Fourth Palestinian In Gaza
Israeli Soldiers Kill Three Palestinian Fighters In Gaza
19 july 2018 Israel air strike on Gaza claims life of Palestinian, leaves 3 injured
In a statement released on Thursday morning, al-Qassam Brigades urged all resistance factions participating in the joint operations room to raise their military readiness to the highest level.
The Brigades warned that the Israeli occupation state would pay dearly for its persistence in committing daily crimes against the Palestinian people and their resistance.
Three resistance fighters from al-Qassam Brigades were killed and another one was injured when the Israeli army launched an artillery attack on their observation post east of Gaza city.
Later, one Israeli soldier was reportedly wounded by Palestinian gunfire east of Gaza.
25 july 2018 Israeli Army Kills Three Palestinians In Gaza
20 july 2018 Israeli Army Kills A Fourth Palestinian In Gaza
Israeli Soldiers Kill Three Palestinian Fighters In Gaza
19 july 2018 Israel air strike on Gaza claims life of Palestinian, leaves 3 injured
22 july 2018
Senior Israeli Military officials said that they do not believe Hamas was behind the death of an Israeli soldier, who was shot with sniper fire from Gaza Friday, and added that the person who shot the soldier acted without Hamas’s approval.
Israel believes that Hamas did not approve the shooting of the soldier, and had no knowledge of the attack, especially since senior political leaders of the movement, including its Political Bureau Chief Ismael Haniyya, were present in the protest areas.
It said that senior political leaders of the movement would not put themselves in such risks by being exposed near the firing zone if they had any knowledge about the use of live fire by the Palestinians.
They believe that the attack was carried out by a party, not loyal to Hamas, and does not follow its directives.
The soldier, who was killed by sniper fire from Gaza, was later identified as Staff Sgt. Aviv Levi; he is the first soldier to be killed by Palestinian fire since Israel’s offensive and major deadly assault in Gaza in 2014.
It is believed that the Levi was shot with a “Steyr HS .50” long range sniper rifle, especially since the bullet penetrated his military vest and killed him.
It is worth mentioning that Israeli soldiers killed, on the same day, four Palestinians and injured 120 others, including 50 who were rushed to hospitals in the coastal region.
The army also dropped dozens of missiles into Palestinian areas in several parts of the coastal region, before an indirect ceasefire understanding was reached.
On Thursday, July 19, 2018, an Israeli army drone dropped a missile at Palestinians, east of Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, killing one, identified as Abdul-Karim Radwan, 22, and wounding three others.
It is worth mentioning that the Israeli army killed 146 Palestinians protesters, including 17 children, two medics and two journalists, and wounded more than 16496 others, since March 30th, 2018.
Israel believes that Hamas did not approve the shooting of the soldier, and had no knowledge of the attack, especially since senior political leaders of the movement, including its Political Bureau Chief Ismael Haniyya, were present in the protest areas.
It said that senior political leaders of the movement would not put themselves in such risks by being exposed near the firing zone if they had any knowledge about the use of live fire by the Palestinians.
They believe that the attack was carried out by a party, not loyal to Hamas, and does not follow its directives.
The soldier, who was killed by sniper fire from Gaza, was later identified as Staff Sgt. Aviv Levi; he is the first soldier to be killed by Palestinian fire since Israel’s offensive and major deadly assault in Gaza in 2014.
It is believed that the Levi was shot with a “Steyr HS .50” long range sniper rifle, especially since the bullet penetrated his military vest and killed him.
It is worth mentioning that Israeli soldiers killed, on the same day, four Palestinians and injured 120 others, including 50 who were rushed to hospitals in the coastal region.
The army also dropped dozens of missiles into Palestinian areas in several parts of the coastal region, before an indirect ceasefire understanding was reached.
On Thursday, July 19, 2018, an Israeli army drone dropped a missile at Palestinians, east of Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, killing one, identified as Abdul-Karim Radwan, 22, and wounding three others.
It is worth mentioning that the Israeli army killed 146 Palestinians protesters, including 17 children, two medics and two journalists, and wounded more than 16496 others, since March 30th, 2018.