Reuters
Israel unleashed another wave of airstrikes across the Gaza Strip early Thursday, killing at least one Palestinian and wounding several, and Hamas fired more rockets, even as expectations rose that a cease-fire could be coming.
(AP)
(AP)
In this fourth war between Israel and Gaza's Hamas rulers, the Islamic militant group has fired more than 4,000 rockets at Israel, some hitting deeper in Israeli territory and with greater accuracy than ever before.
Israel is at war with Hamas, Jewish-Arab mob violence has erupted inside Israel, and the West Bank is experiencing its deadliest unrest in years. Yet this may all bolster Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
(AP)
Israel unleashed a wave of airstrikes across the Gaza Strip early Thursday, killing at least one Palestinian and wounding several others.
Israel unleashed a wave of airstrikes across the Gaza Strip early Thursday, killing at least one Palestinian and wounding several others.
The latest strikes came after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushed back against US pressure to wind down the offensive against Gaza's militant Hamas rulers, who have fired thousands of rockets at Israel.
Amid growing concern over the numbers of people living without bomb shelters or protected areas of their homes, the head of the Home Front says that his command is responsible for regulations but that implementation lies with the state as well as individuals.
“Protection is a national project that cannot be led by the local authorities or residents. More than 70% of citizens have standard protection. In the communities surrounding the Gaza Strip, everyone is protected at home,” Maj. Gen. Ori Gordin tells the Kan public broadcaster. “The Home Front Command is responsible for regulation and criteria, but the realization of this protection is on the state as well as citizens.”
“It is necessary to significantly improve protection in Ashkelon, Netivot, Ashdod and Ofakim,” he says.
(Times of Israel)
Incoming rocket sirens sound in a number of communities surrounding the Gaza Strip, sending residents rushing for shelter.
There are no immediate reports of injuries or damage.
The alerts come as the Israel Defense Forces continues to carry out strikes on terror targets in the Gaza Strip.
(Times of Israel)
Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs announces closure of mosques in Gaza because of their proximity to shelling sites in the eastern area
Ministry of Health of Gaza reports 230 deaths, including 65 children, 17 elderly people. Additionally, 1,710 people injuredas a result of the Israeliaggression in Gaza
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas lands at Ben Gurion Airport where he is greeted by Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi.
The foreign ministers of the Czech Republic and Slovakia are also expected in Israel this morning as part of a delegation of envoys.
The ministers will visit a site hit by Hamas rocket fire and receive a briefing from a security official.
(Times of Israel)
In support of Jerusalem and victory for Gaza,National and Islamic forces in Hebron governorate call for publicparticipation in the demonstration on Friday
An IDF fighter jet just struck a Hamas multi-barrel rocket launcher in Gaza which was armed with 5 rockets ready to target Israeli civilians.
A short while ago, an anti-tank missile was fired from the northern Gaza Strip towards an empty bus. An IDF soldier who stayed by the bus was lightly injured by shrapnel.
The workers union at the Israel Electric Corporation announces they will not repair the power lines to Gaza until the Strip’s ruling terror group returns the bodies of IDF soldiers Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul, both killed in the 2014 war, as well as civilian Avera Mengistu who entered Gaza of his own accord.
The IEC issues a statement in response, saying they are a “government company, subject to the provisions of the law, and we believe that electricity is an essential product that is outside the conflict.”
(Times of Israel)
Sources in the Likud party tell the Ma’ariv newspaper there are concerns Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is extending the fighting in Gaza because Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid currently holds the mandate to form the next government.
“Netanyahu is drawing out the operation in Gaza because Lapid is holding the mandate,” a senior political adviser in the party says.
“He doesn’t seem to have a real desire to eradicate Hamas. Relations between the Arabs in Israel and Jews are being left in ruins,” the adviser says. “Netanyahu is galloping toward a fifth election and taking the country hostage. The collapse of right-wing chairman Naftali Bennett gives him a boost, but support for him within the Likud is weakening.”
Other elements in the right-wing bloc tell they newspaper that it is thought Netanyahu believes the conflict with Hamas will boost his image in fifth elections.
(Times of Israel)
The Wall Street Journal reports that the ceasefire between Israel and the Gaza terror groups could come into effect as early as tomorrow.
People involved in the discussions told the outlet that Egyptian mediators have made progress in talks with leaders from the Hamas terror group, and Israel has “privately conceded” that it is close to achieving all its military objectives.
The report says Washington believes that barring any unforeseen events, the ceasefire could come into effect this week and the only question is one of timing.
However, a US official tells the outlet that the Palestinian Islamic Jihad remains an unknown quantity — the newspaper says the terror group is a “wild card” — and could continue to carry out attacks even after the ceasefire is agreed upon.
The Gaza Strip's already feeble health system is being brought to its knees by the fourth war in just over a decade.
Hospitals have been overwhelmed with waves of dead and wounded from Israel's bombardment. Many vital medicines are rapidly running out in the tiny, blockaded coastal territory, as is fuel to keep electricity going.
Palestinian youth calls to consider Friday as the 'day of the great dawn', and to expand confrontations and clashes with the occupation at all points of contact and bypass streets.
Some 80 rockets and mortar shells were fired from the Gaza Strip toward Israel between 7 p.m. yesterday and 7 a.m. today, with 10 of them falling short of the border and landing within the Palestinian enclave, the Israel Defense Forces says.
According to the IDF, roughly 90 percent of the rockets heading toward populated areas were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system.
The IDF conducted a number of overnight strikes in the Gaza Strip, continuing its campaign against Hamas’s sprawling tunnel network throughout the enclave, the military says.
(Times of Israel)
The only Republican lawmaker to publicly back a ceasefire between Israel and Gaza has walked back the position.
A spokesperson for Indiana Republican Todd Young tells Jewish Insider that the congressman “shares his colleagues’ concerns about a premature ceasefire or one that occurs on Hamas’ terms.”
“Hamas’ infrastructure and tunnel network in Gaza is far deeper and more sophisticated than many previously understood… As such, it is clear that Israel needs more time to deal with the threat it is facing. The only way to create an enduring ceasefire is to deal with the threat they are facing and reestablish deterrence by taking out Hamas’ terror infrastructure,” the spokesperson added.
Just three days ago, Young and Democrat Sen. Chris Murphy issued the first and only bipartisan statement backing a quick ceasefire.
(Times of Israel)
The United States said Wednesday it opposes a proposed UN Security Council resolution calling for a cease-fire in the conflict between Israel and Gaza's Hamas rulers, reiterating that it could interfere with the Biden administration's efforts to end the hostilities.
A senior Hamas official predicted a ceasefire within days even as Israel and Gaza militants pursued their cross-border attacks into an 11th day on Thursday with Israeli warplanes carrying out new airstrikes and Palestinians firing more rockets.
Israel's deadly Gaza offensive has many eyes trained on the Lebanese border for a Hezbollah reaction, but observers argue the Iran-backed movement is unlikely to risk an all-out conflict.
Lebanese security officials said several rockets were fired Wednesday from south Lebanon toward Israel, the third such barrage in the past week.
Progressive congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez led efforts Wednesday to block US arms sales to Israel, a move that was unlikely to succeed but highlighted tensions among Democratic lawmakers grappling with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.