72 Hour Ceasefire Attempts to Go in Effect Friday Morning (Video)
JERUSALEM (Worthy News)– Israel and Hamas have agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire beginning Friday morning. While Israel has said it will observe the ceasefire, the IDF will continue to destroy terror tunnels. Meanwhile, three IDF soldiers were killed Wednesday morning in an explosion at a booby-trapped United Nations Relief Works Agency (UNRWA) health clinic. However, UNRWA claims the building was not registered leading to speculation Hamas stole UNRWA signs and placed it throughout the building. Gazan health officials place the death toll at over 1,400 while the IDF casualty toll grew to 61.
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Militants ‘blow up UNRWA clinic,’ killing 3 soldiers – Times of Israel
Three IDF soldiers were killed Wednesday morning in Gaza in an explosion at a booby-trapped UNRWA health clinic that housed a tunnel entry shaft, the IDF’s Gaza Division commander, Brig. Gen. Micky Edelstein, said in a briefing.
By April, IDF knew Hamas was preparing for ‘summer war’ – Jerusalem Post
Several months ago, the IDF became aware of Hamas’s intention to launch a war in the summer, a senior military source said on Thursday.
Hamas Rockets Exploding in Gaza Strip – Washington Free Beacon
More than a third of the 140 rockets fired by Hamas at Israel yesterday fell short and exploded inside the Gaza Strip, according to the Israeli Army spokesman’s office.
5 IDF soldiers killed in mortar attack – Ynet News
The IDF suffered the loss of five soldiers on Thursday after a mortar fired from Gaza hit their position in the Eshkol Regional Council near the border with the Gaza Strip.
Gaza’s Next Disaster: No Cement for Rebuilding – Bloomberg
For years before the latest hostilities, Hamas, the Palestinian political organization, complained that Israeli restrictions on cement imports into Gaza were preventing the population from constructing homes, schools, and hospitals. As it turns out, a large share of the cement that did reach Gaza went into building underground lairs and attack tunnels for fighters from Hamas. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) estimate that each of the three dozen underground passages that troops have found so far required 350 truckloads of building supplies.
Hamas’ Armed Wing Numbers In The Tens Of Thousands, And It’s Ready For A Long Conflict – Business Insider
However, most estimates of the manpower of Hamas’ military wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, lists the force’s manpower in the tens of thousands with somewhere between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In 2009, the International Crisis Group estimated that the Qassam Brigades had 7,000 to 10,000 full-time members with a reserve of 20,000 soldiers.
Analysis: Bruised and battered, Hamas now accepts cease-fire – Jerusalem Post
The current proposal is similar to the original Egyptian one put on the table on July 15, which Hamas rejected because their demands were not met and they were not consulted in its formulation.
Immigration debates stalls ‘Iron Dome’ funding in US Senate – Ynet News
The failure of the US Senate’s border security funding bill on Thursday also delayed at least until September $225 million in funding for Israel’s “Iron Dome” missile defense system.
Congressman Tells Kerry: Stop Partnering with Hamas’ Top Ally – Washington Free Beacon
Rep. Peter Roskam (R., Ill.) is petitioning the State Department to reassess its close relationship with Qatar, which has served as Hamas’ chief financial lifeline while also enjoying close ties to the United States, which recently inked an $11 billion arms deal with the controversial country.
Calls Grow to Upgrade Operation Protective Edge to ‘War’ Status – Arutz Sheva
MK Nachman Shai on Thursday urged the Prime Minister to officially “upgrade” the status Operation Protective Edge from an IDF operation to a “war.” The government has been under pressure to do so, political and economic experts say, but has been reluctant to do so, because it will require greater outlays in compensation for those damaged by the war – precisely the reason why many are calling for the change in status.