28 june 2015
Sirens blare in Hof Ashkelon Regional Council in southern Israel; IDF: launched rocket seems to have landed in Gaza Strip.
Code red sirens were heard in the Hof Ashkelon Regional Council late Sunday morning when the IDF confirmed observing a launch, but said that the rocket had seemingly landed inside the Gaza Strip.
The siren heard in Hof Ashkelon marked the fourth rocket fired at Israel in the last three weeks. Just last week the Israeli Air Force struck a target in the northern Gaza Strip after a rocket attack from Gaza.
A number of rockets were fired at Israel from Gaza in the last few weeks. On June 11, a siren sounded in the Ashkelon area, also around 10 PM. The IDF later announced that the siren was prompted by a rocket launch from Gaza that landed inside the Strip.
Around 9:30 PM on June 6, a rocket exploded in an open area in Ashkelon, after which the AIF struck terror infrastructure in the northern Gaza Strip.
Gaza has recently seen attempts by Salafists to challenge Hamas rule and fire rockets despite the existing ceasefire. A senior Salafist leader in Gaza said his people could not tolerate the reality of Hamas persecuting, arresting, and killing them.
He added that the militants intended to continue firing rockets at Israeli targets, but claimed the intention was to trigger a civil war with Hamas -- not to drag the Palestinians into another conflict with Israel.
Israel claims rocket was fired from Gaza into Ashkelon
Walla Israeli website on Sunday said that warning sirens went off in Askalan (Ashkelon) shores, while initial Israeli reports claimed that a rocket was launched from Gaza into Israel.
No injuries or damages were reported.
Israeli sources four days ago as well said that a rocket was fired from Gaza into occupied Askalan (Ashkelon) south Israel, with no injuries reported. Hours later, IOF have shelled agricultural lands in Beit Hanoun north Gaza.
About three weeks ago, Several massive explosions rocked the Gaza Strip amid multiple reports of Israeli military airplanes buzzing the area.
The attack followed reports that two rockets were launched from Gaza into Israel by a Salafist group affiliated to ISIS, which later claimed responsibility for the attack.
Code red sirens were heard in the Hof Ashkelon Regional Council late Sunday morning when the IDF confirmed observing a launch, but said that the rocket had seemingly landed inside the Gaza Strip.
The siren heard in Hof Ashkelon marked the fourth rocket fired at Israel in the last three weeks. Just last week the Israeli Air Force struck a target in the northern Gaza Strip after a rocket attack from Gaza.
A number of rockets were fired at Israel from Gaza in the last few weeks. On June 11, a siren sounded in the Ashkelon area, also around 10 PM. The IDF later announced that the siren was prompted by a rocket launch from Gaza that landed inside the Strip.
Around 9:30 PM on June 6, a rocket exploded in an open area in Ashkelon, after which the AIF struck terror infrastructure in the northern Gaza Strip.
Gaza has recently seen attempts by Salafists to challenge Hamas rule and fire rockets despite the existing ceasefire. A senior Salafist leader in Gaza said his people could not tolerate the reality of Hamas persecuting, arresting, and killing them.
He added that the militants intended to continue firing rockets at Israeli targets, but claimed the intention was to trigger a civil war with Hamas -- not to drag the Palestinians into another conflict with Israel.
Israel claims rocket was fired from Gaza into Ashkelon
Walla Israeli website on Sunday said that warning sirens went off in Askalan (Ashkelon) shores, while initial Israeli reports claimed that a rocket was launched from Gaza into Israel.
No injuries or damages were reported.
Israeli sources four days ago as well said that a rocket was fired from Gaza into occupied Askalan (Ashkelon) south Israel, with no injuries reported. Hours later, IOF have shelled agricultural lands in Beit Hanoun north Gaza.
About three weeks ago, Several massive explosions rocked the Gaza Strip amid multiple reports of Israeli military airplanes buzzing the area.
The attack followed reports that two rockets were launched from Gaza into Israel by a Salafist group affiliated to ISIS, which later claimed responsibility for the attack.
26 june 2015
Senior Islamic Jihad leader Khaled al-Batesh on Friday warned that his movement will not abide by the truce signed with Israel in case hunger-striking detainee Khader Adnan dies.
Batesh said during a rally staged in Gaza in solidarity with Khader Adnan that the ceasefire will be “blown away” if Adnan dies.
He called for stepping up pressure on the Israeli occupation authority to meet Adnan’s demands before it is too late.
He said the Islamic Jihad will not accept any attempts to turn Adnan’s or any prisoner’s life into a bargaining chip.
Batesh said during a rally staged in Gaza in solidarity with Khader Adnan that the ceasefire will be “blown away” if Adnan dies.
He called for stepping up pressure on the Israeli occupation authority to meet Adnan’s demands before it is too late.
He said the Islamic Jihad will not accept any attempts to turn Adnan’s or any prisoner’s life into a bargaining chip.
25 june 2015
A home-made Palestinian drone fell on Thursday near the border areas of
Gaza Strip few minutes after Israeli army failed to target it, Israeli
media sources said.
A military radar spotted a small drone that took off within the Gaza Strip on Thursday afternoon. The aircraft stayed in the air for several minutes, and fighter jets were scrambled to the area to monitor its activity, Haaretz Hebrew newspaper claimed.
A similar drone was dropped in Ashdod during the Israeli summer aggression on Gaza, the newspaper added.
The craft was identified in the skies of Gaza at approximately 1 pm, prompting IAF fighter planes to be scrambled towards it. The drone eventually fell undamaged to the ground. Military engineers arrived at the scene to examine it, Yediot Aharanot said.
"The drone was under surveillance from ground and air during its entire 40-minute flight."
Gazan local sources said that loud explosions were heard in the eastern region of Khan Younis near the border areas.
Gaza drone crashes in Israel
Suspected Hamas UAV causes IAF to scramble jets before crashing after 40 minutes of flight; IDF engineers examining drone's remains.
A miniature drone penetrated Israeli airspace on Thursday afternoon, crashing in an open area near the border fence in the southern Gaza Strip.
The craft was identified in the skies of Gaza at approximately 1 pm, prompting IAF fighter planes to be scrambled towards it. The drone eventually fell to the ground without any injuries. Military engineers arrived at the scene to examine it.
The drone was under surveillance from ground and air during its entire 40-minute flight.
Last summer, on the seventh day of Operation Protective Edge, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) produced by Hamas penetrated Israeli airspace. It was eventually intercepted by a Patriot battery in the Ashdod area.
The military wing of Hamas claimed it had launched that UAV for "special operations" deep inside Israel.
The IDF has faced enemy UAVs in the past. On August 14, 2006, the final day of the Second Lebanon War, Hezbollah attempted to send multiple drones into Israel. One crashed as a result of a technical malfunction before reaching Israel.
The other was identified and downed by IAF planes in the western Galilee. A week before that, another drone was downed over the sea. Additionally, last year the IDF said it had intercepted a Hezbollah UAV above the sea near Haifa.
A military radar spotted a small drone that took off within the Gaza Strip on Thursday afternoon. The aircraft stayed in the air for several minutes, and fighter jets were scrambled to the area to monitor its activity, Haaretz Hebrew newspaper claimed.
A similar drone was dropped in Ashdod during the Israeli summer aggression on Gaza, the newspaper added.
The craft was identified in the skies of Gaza at approximately 1 pm, prompting IAF fighter planes to be scrambled towards it. The drone eventually fell undamaged to the ground. Military engineers arrived at the scene to examine it, Yediot Aharanot said.
"The drone was under surveillance from ground and air during its entire 40-minute flight."
Gazan local sources said that loud explosions were heard in the eastern region of Khan Younis near the border areas.
Gaza drone crashes in Israel
Suspected Hamas UAV causes IAF to scramble jets before crashing after 40 minutes of flight; IDF engineers examining drone's remains.
A miniature drone penetrated Israeli airspace on Thursday afternoon, crashing in an open area near the border fence in the southern Gaza Strip.
The craft was identified in the skies of Gaza at approximately 1 pm, prompting IAF fighter planes to be scrambled towards it. The drone eventually fell to the ground without any injuries. Military engineers arrived at the scene to examine it.
The drone was under surveillance from ground and air during its entire 40-minute flight.
Last summer, on the seventh day of Operation Protective Edge, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) produced by Hamas penetrated Israeli airspace. It was eventually intercepted by a Patriot battery in the Ashdod area.
The military wing of Hamas claimed it had launched that UAV for "special operations" deep inside Israel.
The IDF has faced enemy UAVs in the past. On August 14, 2006, the final day of the Second Lebanon War, Hezbollah attempted to send multiple drones into Israel. One crashed as a result of a technical malfunction before reaching Israel.
The other was identified and downed by IAF planes in the western Galilee. A week before that, another drone was downed over the sea. Additionally, last year the IDF said it had intercepted a Hezbollah UAV above the sea near Haifa.
23 june 2015
Searching for a rocket in early June
Alarm heard in south shortly after 10 PM; IDF says rocket was launched, but that it was unclear whether it had fallen in Israeli territory.
A rocket launched from the northern Gaza Strip towards Hof Ashkelon shortly after 10 PM on Tuesday, exploding near a greenhouse in a moshav.
A Red Alert siren sounded in the area during the incident.
Yisrael Beytenu Chairman MK Avigdor Lieberman said after the incident that "He who is willing to absorb 'trickles' will ultimately get torrential rain.
"We cannot accept this situation. No government has a right to exist if it is willing to accept a situation in which less than a year after a military operation that cost us dearly in soldiers' lives and disruption of national life for two months, a situation is returning where residents of the south must again run to shelters. This situation is intolerable, unacceptable, and we must put an end to it."
A siren was sounded only last week in the Golan Heights, after which it was reported that the cause was nearby fighting in Syria.
On June 11, a siren sounded in the Ashkelon area, also around 10 PM.
Locals reported hearing a loud noise north of Ashkelon during that incident. No damage or injuries were reported. The IDF later announced that the siren was prompted by a rocket launch from Gaza that landed inside the Strip.
A Salafist group which sympathizes with the Islamic State, the "Omar Brigades," claimed responsibility.
On June 7, the Israeli Air Force struck terror infrastructure in the northern Gaza Strip in response to a rocket fired at southern Israel the night before.
Alarm heard in south shortly after 10 PM; IDF says rocket was launched, but that it was unclear whether it had fallen in Israeli territory.
A rocket launched from the northern Gaza Strip towards Hof Ashkelon shortly after 10 PM on Tuesday, exploding near a greenhouse in a moshav.
A Red Alert siren sounded in the area during the incident.
Yisrael Beytenu Chairman MK Avigdor Lieberman said after the incident that "He who is willing to absorb 'trickles' will ultimately get torrential rain.
"We cannot accept this situation. No government has a right to exist if it is willing to accept a situation in which less than a year after a military operation that cost us dearly in soldiers' lives and disruption of national life for two months, a situation is returning where residents of the south must again run to shelters. This situation is intolerable, unacceptable, and we must put an end to it."
A siren was sounded only last week in the Golan Heights, after which it was reported that the cause was nearby fighting in Syria.
On June 11, a siren sounded in the Ashkelon area, also around 10 PM.
Locals reported hearing a loud noise north of Ashkelon during that incident. No damage or injuries were reported. The IDF later announced that the siren was prompted by a rocket launch from Gaza that landed inside the Strip.
A Salafist group which sympathizes with the Islamic State, the "Omar Brigades," claimed responsibility.
On June 7, the Israeli Air Force struck terror infrastructure in the northern Gaza Strip in response to a rocket fired at southern Israel the night before.
19 june 2015
Member of Hamas political bureau Mousa Abu Marzouk said no written proposal was brought to discussion with Palestinian factions in regards to a truce with Israel. He noted that what have been discussed were verbal proposals set forth by foreign diplomats.
In a statement on his Facebook page, Abu Marzouk disclosed that the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Robert Serry, Tony Blair and other political diplomats verbally talked about the truce with Hamas.
Hamas senior official Abu Marzouk said that the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) outrage on the matter is unjustified, confirming that Hamas will not change its political standings and commitment to the Palestinian People’s rights and constants.
He stressed that his movement will not take solo decisions or bargain on Palestinians' rights in Gaza and the West Bank especially ending the siege on Gaza, Gaza reconstruction, reopening of the airport, and construction of Gaza Harbor.
In a statement on his Facebook page, Abu Marzouk disclosed that the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Robert Serry, Tony Blair and other political diplomats verbally talked about the truce with Hamas.
Hamas senior official Abu Marzouk said that the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) outrage on the matter is unjustified, confirming that Hamas will not change its political standings and commitment to the Palestinian People’s rights and constants.
He stressed that his movement will not take solo decisions or bargain on Palestinians' rights in Gaza and the West Bank especially ending the siege on Gaza, Gaza reconstruction, reopening of the airport, and construction of Gaza Harbor.
17 june 2015
Prominent Hamas leader Khalil Al-Hayya described the reports about a new truce between his movement and the Israeli occupation as an attempt to "distract" the public and "alluding" that Gaza's problems can be solved with a truce, Felesteen newspaper said yesterday.
On Twitter he explained that those who speak about a new truce have ignored the ceasefire deal reached between the Palestinian factions and the Israeli occupation last August.
The Egyptian-sponsored deal includes lifting the eight-year Israeli siege on Gaza and rebuilding the houses and other facilities destroyed by the occupation during the 51-day Israeli offensive.
"Our demand is the commitment of the Israeli occupation to the obligations in the deal," he said, "the main obligation is opening the Rafah crossing and allowing the entrance of rebuilding material."
On Twitter he explained that those who speak about a new truce have ignored the ceasefire deal reached between the Palestinian factions and the Israeli occupation last August.
The Egyptian-sponsored deal includes lifting the eight-year Israeli siege on Gaza and rebuilding the houses and other facilities destroyed by the occupation during the 51-day Israeli offensive.
"Our demand is the commitment of the Israeli occupation to the obligations in the deal," he said, "the main obligation is opening the Rafah crossing and allowing the entrance of rebuilding material."
Talks about a ceasefire deal to be struck between Hamas and the Israeli occupation authority aim at pulling the wool over the public’s eyes, political bureau member of Hamas Khalil al-Hayya said afternoon Tuesday.
Al-Hayya said, in official tweets of his, the propagated rumors are oblivious to the Egyptian-brokered truce accord signed in the wake of last summer’s Israeli offensive on the blockaded Gaza Strip and stipulating that the IOA would lift the siege and allow reconstruction. "But none of such bonds has seen the day".
Al-Hayya advised the IOA to cease violations of the truce deal and put into effect all of its bonds, including the unconditional opening of border crossings and the free entrance of rebuilding materials into the Strip.
A military aggression launched by Israel on July 7 took away the lives of 2,300 Palestinians, mostly children and women, and left thousands of others wounded.
A ceasefire deal signed at the rear of the 51-day offensive has frequently been infringed by the Israeli occupation forces.
Hamas: Extension of Truce with Israel Possible
Hamas officials are expecting that it will soon be possible to extend the temporary truce with Israel to a period of 5 years, according to a proposal laid out by Qatar which includes an easing of the Israeli siege on Gaza and the establishment of a floating seaport off the coast.
Hamas leader Khalil al-Haya said: “Talks on a truce depend on the public opinion.”
Local news sources had said, according to the PNN, that Hamas’ proposal presented an offer of a truce with Israel in return for a seaport and an airport, and peace extending at least 5 years via Western diplomatic mediation.
UN Envoy to the Middle East, Robert Serry visited Swiss Consul Paul Greening in the Gaza Strip more than once, and the two officials met with a number of Hamas leaders such as Vice President of the Political Office Mousa Abu Marzouq, Basem Na’im and Ghazi Hamed.
Israeli media sources quoted what they called ‘documents’ as confirming that Hamas’ offer proposes a truce lasting between 3 and 5 years based on Western diplomatic mediation.
Hebrew news site Walla said that the ‘communiques and documents from Hamas concerning the truce proposal were delivered to Israel by Western diplomats’.
The news site added that Hamas was based in the Gaza Strip and ‘living in conditions more difficult than ever’.
Walla indicated that Hamas had also proposed a truce lasting up to 15 years, but had rescinded this proposal and instead reached out to Western diplomats for their approval on a 5 year truce. The truce includes the halting of all military operations above and below ground in return for an Israeli commitment to respecting the ceasefire, as well as an easing of the siege on Gaza, allowing the import and export of goods, the establishment of a sea port and the rehabilitation of the Yasser Arafat International Airport located between Rafah and Dahaniya close to the Egyptian border.
According to the Israeli news site, Middle East Quartet Envoy Tony Blair presented a document in English to Hamas, via the Working Men Group in Gaza, which guarantees the establishment of a Palestinian state along the 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital and the right of return.
Al-Hayya said, in official tweets of his, the propagated rumors are oblivious to the Egyptian-brokered truce accord signed in the wake of last summer’s Israeli offensive on the blockaded Gaza Strip and stipulating that the IOA would lift the siege and allow reconstruction. "But none of such bonds has seen the day".
Al-Hayya advised the IOA to cease violations of the truce deal and put into effect all of its bonds, including the unconditional opening of border crossings and the free entrance of rebuilding materials into the Strip.
A military aggression launched by Israel on July 7 took away the lives of 2,300 Palestinians, mostly children and women, and left thousands of others wounded.
A ceasefire deal signed at the rear of the 51-day offensive has frequently been infringed by the Israeli occupation forces.
Hamas: Extension of Truce with Israel Possible
Hamas officials are expecting that it will soon be possible to extend the temporary truce with Israel to a period of 5 years, according to a proposal laid out by Qatar which includes an easing of the Israeli siege on Gaza and the establishment of a floating seaport off the coast.
Hamas leader Khalil al-Haya said: “Talks on a truce depend on the public opinion.”
Local news sources had said, according to the PNN, that Hamas’ proposal presented an offer of a truce with Israel in return for a seaport and an airport, and peace extending at least 5 years via Western diplomatic mediation.
UN Envoy to the Middle East, Robert Serry visited Swiss Consul Paul Greening in the Gaza Strip more than once, and the two officials met with a number of Hamas leaders such as Vice President of the Political Office Mousa Abu Marzouq, Basem Na’im and Ghazi Hamed.
Israeli media sources quoted what they called ‘documents’ as confirming that Hamas’ offer proposes a truce lasting between 3 and 5 years based on Western diplomatic mediation.
Hebrew news site Walla said that the ‘communiques and documents from Hamas concerning the truce proposal were delivered to Israel by Western diplomats’.
The news site added that Hamas was based in the Gaza Strip and ‘living in conditions more difficult than ever’.
Walla indicated that Hamas had also proposed a truce lasting up to 15 years, but had rescinded this proposal and instead reached out to Western diplomats for their approval on a 5 year truce. The truce includes the halting of all military operations above and below ground in return for an Israeli commitment to respecting the ceasefire, as well as an easing of the siege on Gaza, allowing the import and export of goods, the establishment of a sea port and the rehabilitation of the Yasser Arafat International Airport located between Rafah and Dahaniya close to the Egyptian border.
According to the Israeli news site, Middle East Quartet Envoy Tony Blair presented a document in English to Hamas, via the Working Men Group in Gaza, which guarantees the establishment of a Palestinian state along the 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital and the right of return.
16 june 2015
IDF soldier at Gaza border
Senior members said to be in Qatar to weigh accepting deal that would provide Gaza with a seaport in exchange for a halt in fighting.
Leading members of Hamas are meeting in Qatar to discuss a proposal for a long-term ceasefire with Israel, the Palestinian Al-Quds newspaper reported Monday.
The truce proposal, which is backed by both Qatar and Turkey, is based on an outline formulated by UN special envoy to the Middle East Nikolay Mladenov, according to Israel Radio.
Israeli media reported that leading Hamas member Abu Marzouk arrived in Doha from Gaza on Saturday and held a series of meetings with Hamas leader Khaled Mashal, who lives in Qatar, as well as other senior officials in the organization.
The truce proposal is said to stipulate that Israel allow the construction of a floating sea port off the Gaza coast, to be subject to Israeli or international supervision.
In return, Hamas would agree to cease fire for five years, with the possibility of extending it.
UN envoy Mladenov warned the Security Council last month that Gaza residents have become desperate, and that Israel and the Palestinians bear responsibility to prevent a collapse.
He also said Gaza residents were furious about the Israeli blockade, the closure of Rafah Crossing to Egypt (although it has been temporarily opened since), Hamas itself, and the international community that has failed to follow through on its commitments to help rehabilitate the Strip.
About a year since Operation Protective Edge, the UN's report on its events is imminent. Diplomatic sources in Jerusalem suggested that the report will be released later this week.
Concerned that the Palestinians would leak the report, the Foreign Ministry released its own version of events on Sunday. It claimed among other things that Hamas forced Palestinian civilians to stay in battle zones.
The Israeli line of defense is that Hamas committed war crimes and that half of Palestinian fatalities were militant terrorists.
The calm that has settled over southern Israel since last summer was recently broken. Sporadic rocket launches were attributed by Gaza authorities to a radical Salafi organization opposed to Hamas.
The truce idea has come up in the past, at least since the Aug. 26 ceasefire that ended last summer's 50-day war between the sides, but Israel has strenuously objected to the Hamas demand for an airfield and sea port, fearing these would be used to bring in weapons.
Senior members said to be in Qatar to weigh accepting deal that would provide Gaza with a seaport in exchange for a halt in fighting.
Leading members of Hamas are meeting in Qatar to discuss a proposal for a long-term ceasefire with Israel, the Palestinian Al-Quds newspaper reported Monday.
The truce proposal, which is backed by both Qatar and Turkey, is based on an outline formulated by UN special envoy to the Middle East Nikolay Mladenov, according to Israel Radio.
Israeli media reported that leading Hamas member Abu Marzouk arrived in Doha from Gaza on Saturday and held a series of meetings with Hamas leader Khaled Mashal, who lives in Qatar, as well as other senior officials in the organization.
The truce proposal is said to stipulate that Israel allow the construction of a floating sea port off the Gaza coast, to be subject to Israeli or international supervision.
In return, Hamas would agree to cease fire for five years, with the possibility of extending it.
UN envoy Mladenov warned the Security Council last month that Gaza residents have become desperate, and that Israel and the Palestinians bear responsibility to prevent a collapse.
He also said Gaza residents were furious about the Israeli blockade, the closure of Rafah Crossing to Egypt (although it has been temporarily opened since), Hamas itself, and the international community that has failed to follow through on its commitments to help rehabilitate the Strip.
About a year since Operation Protective Edge, the UN's report on its events is imminent. Diplomatic sources in Jerusalem suggested that the report will be released later this week.
Concerned that the Palestinians would leak the report, the Foreign Ministry released its own version of events on Sunday. It claimed among other things that Hamas forced Palestinian civilians to stay in battle zones.
The Israeli line of defense is that Hamas committed war crimes and that half of Palestinian fatalities were militant terrorists.
The calm that has settled over southern Israel since last summer was recently broken. Sporadic rocket launches were attributed by Gaza authorities to a radical Salafi organization opposed to Hamas.
The truce idea has come up in the past, at least since the Aug. 26 ceasefire that ended last summer's 50-day war between the sides, but Israel has strenuously objected to the Hamas demand for an airfield and sea port, fearing these would be used to bring in weapons.
12 june 2015
Salafist group Sheikh Omar Hadid fired a rocket last night from the Gaza Strip which landed in Ashkelon, southern Israel, saying that this action showed their commitment to armed resistance.
The group confirmed in a statement distributed in Gaza that the operation was in retaliation for the assassination of Izz al-Din by Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) in “cold blood”.
The group also confirmed that it will continue its operations in reprisal for Hamas’ crackdown on Salafist groups, saying that the arrests and disarmament carried out by Hamas would not deter its supporters from continuing their fight against Israel.
Sources in the Gaza Strip reported that the Salafist groups saw that the Hamas announcement of Egypt’s cooperation sought to eliminate the groups, noting that the groups would nonetheless continue in their objectives.
Ma’ariv newspaper cited an Israeli security source as saying that Israel welcomes the Egyptian rapprochement with Hamas, noting that the military leaders in Israel see in this convergence a useful tool for the elimination of the Salafist groups, which have garnered a lot of underground support in Gaza due to Egypt’s recent military campaigns in the Sinai.
The newspaper also quoted the Israeli Head of Planning Division General Nimrod Shafer as saying that any rapprochement and alliance between Hamas and Egypt will lead to the weakening of the Salafist groups operating in the Gaza Strip.
Shafer said that Israel does not oppose the Egyptian rapprochement with Hamas, which is showing great willingness to cooperate in order to cope with the Salafist groups in conjunction with the Egyptian army. He noted that Hamas had sent many messages which confirmed that it was making every effort to prevent the firing of rockets at Israel, and that it did not want military escalation.
The group confirmed in a statement distributed in Gaza that the operation was in retaliation for the assassination of Izz al-Din by Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) in “cold blood”.
The group also confirmed that it will continue its operations in reprisal for Hamas’ crackdown on Salafist groups, saying that the arrests and disarmament carried out by Hamas would not deter its supporters from continuing their fight against Israel.
Sources in the Gaza Strip reported that the Salafist groups saw that the Hamas announcement of Egypt’s cooperation sought to eliminate the groups, noting that the groups would nonetheless continue in their objectives.
Ma’ariv newspaper cited an Israeli security source as saying that Israel welcomes the Egyptian rapprochement with Hamas, noting that the military leaders in Israel see in this convergence a useful tool for the elimination of the Salafist groups, which have garnered a lot of underground support in Gaza due to Egypt’s recent military campaigns in the Sinai.
The newspaper also quoted the Israeli Head of Planning Division General Nimrod Shafer as saying that any rapprochement and alliance between Hamas and Egypt will lead to the weakening of the Salafist groups operating in the Gaza Strip.
Shafer said that Israel does not oppose the Egyptian rapprochement with Hamas, which is showing great willingness to cooperate in order to cope with the Salafist groups in conjunction with the Egyptian army. He noted that Hamas had sent many messages which confirmed that it was making every effort to prevent the firing of rockets at Israel, and that it did not want military escalation.
11 june 2015
Siren sounds in south after at least one rocket fired from Gaza; residents report sound of explosion; no damage or injuries reported.
A Red Alert siren signaling an incoming rocket sounded in the Ashkelon area on Thursday at around 10 PM.
Locals reported hearing a loud noise north of Ashkelon. No damage or injuries were reported.
The most recent incident of rocket fire in the Ashkelon area was on Saturday, which led Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon to order the closure of Israel's two border crossings to the Gaza Strip - Kerem Shalom and Erez - until further notice.
Last Wednesday, at least two rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip at southern Israel around 11 PM local time, with at least one of them falling in an open area in the Sdot Negev Regional Council.
In response, Israel Air Force jets struck three targets in the Gaza Strip in the early hours of Thursday.
A Red Alert siren signaling an incoming rocket sounded in the Ashkelon area on Thursday at around 10 PM.
Locals reported hearing a loud noise north of Ashkelon. No damage or injuries were reported.
The most recent incident of rocket fire in the Ashkelon area was on Saturday, which led Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon to order the closure of Israel's two border crossings to the Gaza Strip - Kerem Shalom and Erez - until further notice.
Last Wednesday, at least two rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip at southern Israel around 11 PM local time, with at least one of them falling in an open area in the Sdot Negev Regional Council.
In response, Israel Air Force jets struck three targets in the Gaza Strip in the early hours of Thursday.
Israeli media sources reported Wednesday that an Israeli soldier of Ethiopian descent was captured by Hamas movement last September.
The Israeli-Ethiopian soldier Abraham Mengistu, 24, has been captured by Hamas movement for nearly ten months, the sources said.
Abraham, from Ashkelon, was dragged into the northern shores of Gaza following Israel's summer war on Gaza in 2014, according to the sources.
Israeli authorities have earlier demanded from the missing soldier's family not speak to the media. The gag order, according to analysts, comes to prove how Israeli does not care about Jews of colour.
The Israeli-Ethiopian soldier Abraham Mengistu, 24, has been captured by Hamas movement for nearly ten months, the sources said.
Abraham, from Ashkelon, was dragged into the northern shores of Gaza following Israel's summer war on Gaza in 2014, according to the sources.
Israeli authorities have earlier demanded from the missing soldier's family not speak to the media. The gag order, according to analysts, comes to prove how Israeli does not care about Jews of colour.
9 june 2015
Israeli Defence Minister, Moshe Ya'alon
Israeli sources yesterday announced that the Israeli army had deployed the fourth Iron Dome Rocket Defence System, fearing a deterioration of the security situation in Gaza, the Anadolu Agency reported. The other systems were already in place in Ashdod, Ashkelon and Netivot as three homemade rockets were fired from Gaza during the last week.
Several Israeli officials, including Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Ya'alon, warned that Israel would never tolerate sporadic rocket attacks.
Ya'alon said: "Israel holds Hamas responsible for all firing from Gaza at our territory." He hoped that the world would remain silent "when we use our full strength to uphold our right to defend ourselves."
Israel waged three wars against Gaza since 2008, it said that these were attempts to defend itself.
"Let it be clear: The spreading hypocrisy in the world will not tie our hands and prevent us from protecting Israel's citizens," he said. "Thus we have acted; thus we will act," the Israeli minister insisted.
Israeli sources yesterday announced that the Israeli army had deployed the fourth Iron Dome Rocket Defence System, fearing a deterioration of the security situation in Gaza, the Anadolu Agency reported. The other systems were already in place in Ashdod, Ashkelon and Netivot as three homemade rockets were fired from Gaza during the last week.
Several Israeli officials, including Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Ya'alon, warned that Israel would never tolerate sporadic rocket attacks.
Ya'alon said: "Israel holds Hamas responsible for all firing from Gaza at our territory." He hoped that the world would remain silent "when we use our full strength to uphold our right to defend ourselves."
Israel waged three wars against Gaza since 2008, it said that these were attempts to defend itself.
"Let it be clear: The spreading hypocrisy in the world will not tie our hands and prevent us from protecting Israel's citizens," he said. "Thus we have acted; thus we will act," the Israeli minister insisted.
The Southern Region Commander Maj. Gen. Sami Turgeman said Sunday night that Israel will not launch a new war on Gaza due to a few rockets.
Turgeman's statements came during a meeting with mayors of Israeli towns bordering Gaza Strip.
Israel won't launch a military operation in Gaza in response to sporadic rocket fire from the Strip that lands in open areas, he said.
Turgeman did stress, however, that great effort was going toward increasing the IDF's defense capabilities against such attacks from rockets and tunnels dug.
The Israeli occupation army at dawn Sunday launched an aerial attack on an area in the besieged Gaza Strip, after they claimed that a rocket was fired from Gaza and landed in an open area near Ashkelon.
Israeli political and military officials expressed their belief that the rocket attack was carried out by a Salafi group, who seeks to drag Hamas into a new war with Israel.
Last summer, Israel launched a 51-day aggression on Gaza, resulted in nearly 2,300 martyrs mostly children and women while tens of thousands others were injured.
In south, Israelis fear rerun of last year's Gaza war
Spate of rocket strikes from Gaza spark concerns of another summer conflict; Rivlin: No one will disrupt our lives.
After a series of rocket strikes from Gaza, residents of southern Israel who had been hoping for a quiet summer to make up for last year's war, again find themselves in a state of uncertainty.
"We had a crazy night to the accompaniment of IDF bombings," said Aviva Fuld from the Netiv HaAsara moshav, referring to Saturday night's attack and Israeli response.
"We woke at three in the morning and weren't able to get back to sleep afterwards. Unfortunately, I have a feeling that the summer is going to be just like the last one. It's unacceptable, and we shouldn't have to come to terms with the situation.
"We want a quiet summer, without air raid sirens and without having to pick up and move all over the country. We simply want to be at home and to enjoy ourselves."
Speaking Sunday at the opening of a film festival in Sderot, President Reuven Rivlin also commented on the current tension in the south.
"When I was asked if I am going to Sderot this evening, I didn't understand the question," Rivlin said. "Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Sderot – they're all the same. No one will disrupt our lives."
The rocket that was fired Saturday night from the Gaza Strip was found on Sunday in a field of sunflowers in the Hof Ashkelon Regional Council. Once again, the Israel Defense Forces responded to the rocket fire and launched air strikes against targets in the Strip; and residents of the south have expressed fears about a "rerun" of the events of last summer.
At a meeting Sunday night with GOC Southern Command Major General Sami Turgeman, leaders of the Gaza-border communities expressed concerns about a potential escalation in the area and asked the senior IDF officer for a report on the current situation.
Turgeman said that while Hamas was indeed making efforts to prevent the rocket attacks, Israel still held the organization responsible for the incidents and would respond accordingly whenever necessary. The major general also said that the IDF would not mount an operation in Gaza in response to sporadic rockets that land in open areas.
Turgeman's statements came during a meeting with mayors of Israeli towns bordering Gaza Strip.
Israel won't launch a military operation in Gaza in response to sporadic rocket fire from the Strip that lands in open areas, he said.
Turgeman did stress, however, that great effort was going toward increasing the IDF's defense capabilities against such attacks from rockets and tunnels dug.
The Israeli occupation army at dawn Sunday launched an aerial attack on an area in the besieged Gaza Strip, after they claimed that a rocket was fired from Gaza and landed in an open area near Ashkelon.
Israeli political and military officials expressed their belief that the rocket attack was carried out by a Salafi group, who seeks to drag Hamas into a new war with Israel.
Last summer, Israel launched a 51-day aggression on Gaza, resulted in nearly 2,300 martyrs mostly children and women while tens of thousands others were injured.
In south, Israelis fear rerun of last year's Gaza war
Spate of rocket strikes from Gaza spark concerns of another summer conflict; Rivlin: No one will disrupt our lives.
After a series of rocket strikes from Gaza, residents of southern Israel who had been hoping for a quiet summer to make up for last year's war, again find themselves in a state of uncertainty.
"We had a crazy night to the accompaniment of IDF bombings," said Aviva Fuld from the Netiv HaAsara moshav, referring to Saturday night's attack and Israeli response.
"We woke at three in the morning and weren't able to get back to sleep afterwards. Unfortunately, I have a feeling that the summer is going to be just like the last one. It's unacceptable, and we shouldn't have to come to terms with the situation.
"We want a quiet summer, without air raid sirens and without having to pick up and move all over the country. We simply want to be at home and to enjoy ourselves."
Speaking Sunday at the opening of a film festival in Sderot, President Reuven Rivlin also commented on the current tension in the south.
"When I was asked if I am going to Sderot this evening, I didn't understand the question," Rivlin said. "Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Sderot – they're all the same. No one will disrupt our lives."
The rocket that was fired Saturday night from the Gaza Strip was found on Sunday in a field of sunflowers in the Hof Ashkelon Regional Council. Once again, the Israel Defense Forces responded to the rocket fire and launched air strikes against targets in the Strip; and residents of the south have expressed fears about a "rerun" of the events of last summer.
At a meeting Sunday night with GOC Southern Command Major General Sami Turgeman, leaders of the Gaza-border communities expressed concerns about a potential escalation in the area and asked the senior IDF officer for a report on the current situation.
Turgeman said that while Hamas was indeed making efforts to prevent the rocket attacks, Israel still held the organization responsible for the incidents and would respond accordingly whenever necessary. The major general also said that the IDF would not mount an operation in Gaza in response to sporadic rockets that land in open areas.