The Israel Defense Forces shot down an Iranian-made drone operated by Hezbollah on Tuesday afternoon after the drone entered the demilitarized zone along the border between Israel and Syria on the Golan Heights. The Israel Air Force’s aerial defense command fired a Patriot missile and destroyed the drone.
Israeli jets struck two Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip overnight Tuesday, injuring at least three people, hours after a rocket fired from the Palestinian enclave hit an open area in southern Israel.
Hamas violated an extended ceasefire some 8 hours before it was set to expire by firing over 50 rockets into Israel on Tuesday evening. Israel responded by killing a Hamas military chief and destroying some 30 terror targets in Gaza. Hamas’ armed wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, said Israel had ‘opened the gates of hell on itself’ by the killings and warned that the Jewish state would pay for its crimes. Israel recalled 2,000 reservists, as it prepares for a possible ground operation into the Gaza Strip.
Israel withdrew its diplomatic team from Egypt, after Hamas launched 20 rockets at Israeli cities, saying it will not negotiate under fire. Israel Defense Forces struck terrorist sites throughout the Gaza Strip as fighting has renewed.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are waging war — underground. As tunnels are uncovered on a daily basis, an underground Gaza has emerged complicating efforts in dismantling Hamas infrastructure. Tunnels stretching over 2.5 kilometers long, and costing an estimated $10 million dollars have been discovered and destroyed by the IDF. However, U.S. intelligence officials warn that Israel is underestimating the number and extent of the underground tunnel network.
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it identified six of seven bodies killed in Sunday’s attack, and the seventh soldier is now considered ‘missing in action’. Two more soldiers were killed in overnight action, raising the total of Israeli casualties to 27.
A Hamas terrorist squad entered Israel through a smuggling tunnel from the Gaza Strip killing two IDF soldiers. Israel continues to call up reservists, as troop mass along the Gaza border for a possible expansion of a ground campaign within 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.
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.