Israel has reportedly agreed to extend the current ceasefire in Gaza Strip Wednesday as indirect Israel-Palestinian negotiations over extending a truce in Gaza got underway in Cairo. However, Hamas was quick to deny the reports, saying it will renew fire at Israel as soon as the current lull has ended, Ynet News reported. Meanwhile, EU powers proposed Gaza rehabilitation in exchange for disarmament.
As journalists left the Gaza Strip more details emerged as television crews showed detailed footage of how Hamas assembled rockets and then fired them from residential areas just before a 72-hour ceasefire went into effect. Meanwhile, Israel-U.S. relations have hit a new low after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry haven’t spoken since their short phone conversation last week was disconnected due to “communications problems”. Lastly, Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter said the U.S. and E.U. must “recognize” Hamas as a “legitimate political actor” in order to bring peace to the region.
Jerusalem was hit with multiple terror attacks just before Tisha b’Av began. Riots broke out on the Temple Mount Monday morning when hundreds of masked Muslims stormed the holy site and injured at least five police officers. A few hours later, a Palestinian man seized a construction excavator, and mowed down and killed a pedestrian and injured six others, overturned a bus before being killed by police in the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood of Shmuel Hanavi. Later, a soldier was seriously wounded at a bus stop after he was shot in the stomach by a man who fled on a motorcycle. During Tisha b’Av, Israeli police have heightened security throughout the capital.
Israel’s Iron Dome Missile Defense System received a $225 million boost when U.S. President Barack Obama signed a bill on Monday authorizing additional funding for the program.
As Operation Protective Edge enters its fifth week, Israel and Hamas have agreed to an Egyptian proposal for a 72-hour ceasefire beginning Tuesday morning.
Over the weekend, Israel completed its demolition of Hamas terror tunnels and began withdrawing its troops from the Gaza Strip ahead of Tisha B’Av, which begins Monday night. Meanwhile, the U.N. condemned Israel for not sharing its Iron Dome technology with Hamas, saying Israel committed war crimes by not “protecting” Gazan citizens from misfired Hamas rockets that land within the Gaza Strip. Last week, there were scores of misfired rockets by Hamas that killed dozens of Palestinian citizens. On the diplomatic front, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the White House not to ‘second guess’ him on dealing with Hamas.
Hamas wants Hezbollah to join the three-week-old conflict with Israel, Musa Abu Marzouk, a senior Hamas official said. While Hamas rocket strength was estimated at 10,000 rockets, conservative estimates say Hezbollah has well over 100,000 rockets aimed at Israel.
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.
One thing that really frustrates me is the number of Christians who believe Israel is in the wrong for destroying Hamas…
Tensions intensified internationally as a U.N. run school was caught in the midst of a battle that left 19 Palestinians dead, and scores more injured. Nevertheless, Israel called up another 16,000 reservists as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) pressed forward with its campaign against Hamas vowing to destroy every terrorist tunnel. Meanwhile, the U.S. allowed Israel to resupply its grenades and mortar rounds from a U.S. munitions store located in Israel.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) found a cache of rockets at one of its schools in the Gaza Strip for the 3rd time in as many weeks, further confirming Israel claims that Hamas have used schools and other civilian sites to store weapons, making them legitimate targets.
The Temple Institute has created a $100,000 Indiegogo campaign to raise financing for “architectural plans” to construct the Third Temple, which it says will be a “house of prayer for all nations” and will usher in “a new era of universal harmony and peace” as prophesied in the Bible.
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepared his country for an “extended operation inside Gaza” Monday night as fighting continued as Operation Protective Shield entered its 22nd day.
After U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry failed in bringing a ceasefire to the region, U.S. President Barack Obama called and urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanayahu to agree to a ceasefire late Sunday night as Operation Protective Edge enters its 21st day. Since the beginning of the operation, 2,538 rockets have been fired into Israel. The death toll in Gaza move above 1,000, while the Israel Defense Forces have lost 43 soldiers.
Hundreds of Hamas terrorists planned to invade Israel through its tunnels on Rosh HaShannah, the Jewish New Year, which begins on September 24, however the terrorist attack was stopped as Hamas’ tunnel infrastructure was discovered by Israel Defense forces.
As Hamas continues to use hospitals, schools and mosques to wage war against Israel, at least 15 were killed and as many as 200 more were wounded at a UN school, as the IDF and Hamas exchanged fire. Meanwhile, Hamas called for the start of a third intifada, and the Palestinian Authority called for a “Day of Rage” today.
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) killed 15 terrorists and took at least 150 terror suspects as prisoner in the Gaza Strip last night. The IDF death toll was raised to 32 as three IDF soldiers were killed overnight. A major tunnel network was discovered on Wednesday that contained maps and weapons for an imminent attack. Israel has discovered 31 tunnels so far, but has only destroyed nine saying it needs more time to dismantle the underground network.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) lifted its ban on all US flights in and out of Israel late Wednesday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized and was suspicious of the ban saying it was a means by the Obama administration to launch an economic boycott on Israel, in order to force a ceasefire in Gaza.
Over the past 24 hours some 200 terrorist targets were destroyed. Two Israeli soldiers died in overnight fighting, raising the death toll of IDF soldiers to 29 as Operation Protective Edge enters its 16th day.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) discovered rockets hidden in a vacant school for the second time in as many weeks in the Gaza Strip. Earlier this week, rockets found previously in a UNRWA run school were given back to Hamas.