For the second time, Israel has shot down an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) coming from the Gaza Strip on Thursday night. Meanwhile, Israel launched a ground campaign in Gaza last night, and the IDF suffered its first casualty of Operation Protective Edge. At least 20 Palestinians were killed overnight according to Palestinian media sources.
Israel sent ground forces into the Gaza Strip on Thursday evening to find and destroy terror tunnels and destroy Hamas’ infrastructure, Israeli officials said.
Israel accepted a five-hour unilateral UN ceasefire proposal to allow humanitarian relief to enter Gaza. Meanwhile, the IDF thwarted at least 13 terrorists who tried to infiltrate Israel through a tunnel near Kibbutz Sufa, south of the Gaza Strip.
Israelis were awaken early in the morning as a heavy barrage of rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip. At least six rockets were intercepted over Ashkelon and two rockets were intercepted over Kiryat Malachi by the Iron Dome around 8 AM. Overnight, Israel conducted airstrikes on thirty terror targets throughout the Gaza Strip.
Israel restarted its attacks against Hamas Tuesday afternoon, after Israel’s acceptance of a ceasefire was met with over 50 rockets from Hamas.
Israel accepted a Egyptian proposed ceasefire that went into effect at 9 AM, while Hamas’ armed wing rejected the offer completely saying it was “surrender.” If the ceasefire does not hold, Israel vowed to respond in force. Over the seven days of Operation Protective Edge, Israel has struck over 1,500 terrorist related targets in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas launched an unmanned aircraft for the first time from the Gaza Strip which was destroyed near Ashdod as scores of rockets continued to rain down on Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned any nuclear deal leaving Iran the capability to enrich uranium would be “catastrophic,” as significant gaps remain with a six-month interim deal with Iran expires on July 20.
While rockets landed in Tel Aviv and towns near the Lebanon border, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepared his nation that Operation Protective Edge could “take time.” Israel continued to build forces on the Gaza border as it warned some residents to leave their homes in preparation of a ground operation.
Over the past 24 hours, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) struck over 200 targets in Gaza, while Hamas continued to launch rockets into Israel — including rockets landing in Hebron and Bethlehem, heavily populated Arab towns. Several rockets land in the upper Galilee from Lebanon.
While Israel and Hamas continued to exchange hostilities, the U.N. Security Council urged a cessation of hostilities on Saturday.
Israel is massing troops along the Gaza border for a major ground offensive in Gaza. Meanwhile, for the first time since the beginning of hostilities a rocket was fired from Lebanon into Metula, a Israeli town on the Lebanese border.
As Palestinian TV reported on the gallant terrorist attack by Hamas on Zikim, Israel released video footage showing how the terrorist attack was thwarted in the elimination of several terrorists. Meanwhile, on Palestinian TV, Hamas Spokesman glorified the use of human shields.
Israel has destroyed 550 targets in Gaza, while Hamas continued to fire rockets into Israel. Hamas fired three rockets fired toward Dimona, one of which was shot down by the Iron Dome Missile Defense system, while the others landed in open areas.
Hundreds of Muslims flooded the Temple Mount on Tuesday afternoon in celebration of the barrage of rockets fired upon Israel, as Israel continued its “Operation Protective Edge.”
Israel attacked over 350 terror related sites in the Gaza Strip as the nation fell under a barrage of rockets, including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. An extended operation is planned against Hamas as the the Israel Cabinet called up 40,000 reservists earlier in the day.
Israel announced the launch of Operation Protective Edge last night against Hamas, in order to stop terror attacks against its citizens.
In response to over 30 rockets fired on Monday, Israel Air Force destroyed underground rocket launchers, and an underground terror tunnel. Israel also called up 1,500 reservists, in anticipation of an escalation of hostilities.
Israel is taking ‘significant steps’ in preparation for a Gaza campaign, military sources told the Jerusalem Post.
Rioting continued into its fourth day, as clashes between Palestinians and Israeli Police spread from East Jerusalem to Israeli-Arab towns in the West Bank.