14 mar 2014
Nearly 40 protesters were injured after Israeli forces opened fire on demonstrations across the central West Bank on Friday afternoon, activists said.
The injured included 35 Palestinians in the Abu Dis and Eizariya neighborhoods of East Jerusalem as well as two Palestinians in Beitin.
Additionally, a Norwegian activists was struck in the back by a tear gas canister fired by Israeli forces in Bilin.
The demonstrations come after a week of intense violence in the region, as airstrikes and rocket fire was exchanged in the last two days across the Gaza border after seven Palestinians were reported killed by Israeli forces in separate incidents in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip earlier in the week.
East Jerusalem
Dozens of Palestinian were injured in clashes with Israeli forces in the Abu Dis and Eizariya villages in East Jerusalem on Friday.
Spokesman for the local popular resistance committee Hani Halabiya told Ma'an that 35 young men were struck by rubber-coated steel bullets, while dozens of others suffered from excessive tear gas inhalation.
Palestinians threw rocks at Israeli forces and closed the roads with trash bins during the clashes.
Israeli forces fired tear gas randomly at houses and at the Eizariya cemetery, Halabiya said.
Israeli forces also fired at al-Quds news photographer Rami Alariya.
"Israeli forces shot four tear gas canisters, a metal bullet, and three stun grenades at me in different locations while I was covering the clashes," Alariya said.
"An officer threatened to shoot me and then gave orders to soldiers to shoot me near al-Jabal junction in Abu Dis," he added, "in addition to the curses and insults I received."
The injured included 35 Palestinians in the Abu Dis and Eizariya neighborhoods of East Jerusalem as well as two Palestinians in Beitin.
Additionally, a Norwegian activists was struck in the back by a tear gas canister fired by Israeli forces in Bilin.
The demonstrations come after a week of intense violence in the region, as airstrikes and rocket fire was exchanged in the last two days across the Gaza border after seven Palestinians were reported killed by Israeli forces in separate incidents in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip earlier in the week.
East Jerusalem
Dozens of Palestinian were injured in clashes with Israeli forces in the Abu Dis and Eizariya villages in East Jerusalem on Friday.
Spokesman for the local popular resistance committee Hani Halabiya told Ma'an that 35 young men were struck by rubber-coated steel bullets, while dozens of others suffered from excessive tear gas inhalation.
Palestinians threw rocks at Israeli forces and closed the roads with trash bins during the clashes.
Israeli forces fired tear gas randomly at houses and at the Eizariya cemetery, Halabiya said.
Israeli forces also fired at al-Quds news photographer Rami Alariya.
"Israeli forces shot four tear gas canisters, a metal bullet, and three stun grenades at me in different locations while I was covering the clashes," Alariya said.
"An officer threatened to shoot me and then gave orders to soldiers to shoot me near al-Jabal junction in Abu Dis," he added, "in addition to the curses and insults I received."
Beitin
Two Palestinians were injured in clashes that broke out in Beitin village east of Ramallah on Friday.
One protester was struck by a live bullet in the leg and another was hit by a rubber-coated steel bullet after Israeli forces opened fire at protesters, who were throwing rocks at them.
Protestors said they marched to condemn the killing of Saji Darwish, 18, last week, a student at Birzeit University from Beitin who was shot dead by Israeli soldiers while he was throwing rocks at the vehicles of Israeli settlers.
An Israeli military spokeswoman said that "30 Palestinians" were "rioting" and Israeli forces responded with "riot dispersal means."
One hit was confirmed, she added.
Bilin
A Norwegian activist was injured and dozens of others suffered from excessive tear gas inhalation in clashes in Bilin in the central West Bank.
Israeli forces fired tear gas, stun grenades, and rubber-coated steel bullets at protesters as they neared their lands close to the wall, injuring a 36-year-old woman from Norway named "Katia" who was struck by a tear gas canister in the back.
Organizers said the protest was held "in loyalty to the martyrs," and protesters raised Palestinian flags and posters of Saji Darwish. They marched through the village and chanted songs for unity and resistance.
Since 2005, Bilin villagers have protested on a weekly basis against the Israeli separation wall that runs through their village on land confiscated from local farmers.
Previous protests by Bilin activists have forced the Israeli authorities to re-route the wall, but large chunks of the village lands remain inaccessible to residents because of the route.
Israel began building the separation wall in 2002, and the route has been the target of regular demonstrations by border towns whose land is cut off by its path.
An Israeli army spokeswoman did not have information regarding the incident.
Nabi Saleh
Dozens of activists suffered from excessive tear gas inhalation as Israeli forces dispersed a protest in Nabi Saleh northwest of Ramallah.
Protesters marched towards their confiscated lands which have been taken over by the nearby illegal Jewish settlement of Hallamish after the noon prayers and condemned recent "Israeli crimes" against Palestinians, the ongoing siege on Gaza and continued settlement activity in the West Bank.
Israeli forces dispersed protesters using rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, and tear gas.
Activists in Nabi Saleh have been protesting weekly against the occupation for four years, demanding that their lands confiscated by Israeli forces to build the separation wall be returned.
In 2004, the International Court of Justice called on Israel to stop construction of the separation wall within the occupied West Bank.
When completed, 85 percent of the wall will run inside the West Bank.
The internationally recognized Palestinian territories of which the West Bank and East Jerusalem form a part have been occupied by the Israeli military since 1967.
Two Palestinians were injured in clashes that broke out in Beitin village east of Ramallah on Friday.
One protester was struck by a live bullet in the leg and another was hit by a rubber-coated steel bullet after Israeli forces opened fire at protesters, who were throwing rocks at them.
Protestors said they marched to condemn the killing of Saji Darwish, 18, last week, a student at Birzeit University from Beitin who was shot dead by Israeli soldiers while he was throwing rocks at the vehicles of Israeli settlers.
An Israeli military spokeswoman said that "30 Palestinians" were "rioting" and Israeli forces responded with "riot dispersal means."
One hit was confirmed, she added.
Bilin
A Norwegian activist was injured and dozens of others suffered from excessive tear gas inhalation in clashes in Bilin in the central West Bank.
Israeli forces fired tear gas, stun grenades, and rubber-coated steel bullets at protesters as they neared their lands close to the wall, injuring a 36-year-old woman from Norway named "Katia" who was struck by a tear gas canister in the back.
Organizers said the protest was held "in loyalty to the martyrs," and protesters raised Palestinian flags and posters of Saji Darwish. They marched through the village and chanted songs for unity and resistance.
Since 2005, Bilin villagers have protested on a weekly basis against the Israeli separation wall that runs through their village on land confiscated from local farmers.
Previous protests by Bilin activists have forced the Israeli authorities to re-route the wall, but large chunks of the village lands remain inaccessible to residents because of the route.
Israel began building the separation wall in 2002, and the route has been the target of regular demonstrations by border towns whose land is cut off by its path.
An Israeli army spokeswoman did not have information regarding the incident.
Nabi Saleh
Dozens of activists suffered from excessive tear gas inhalation as Israeli forces dispersed a protest in Nabi Saleh northwest of Ramallah.
Protesters marched towards their confiscated lands which have been taken over by the nearby illegal Jewish settlement of Hallamish after the noon prayers and condemned recent "Israeli crimes" against Palestinians, the ongoing siege on Gaza and continued settlement activity in the West Bank.
Israeli forces dispersed protesters using rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, and tear gas.
Activists in Nabi Saleh have been protesting weekly against the occupation for four years, demanding that their lands confiscated by Israeli forces to build the separation wall be returned.
In 2004, the International Court of Justice called on Israel to stop construction of the separation wall within the occupied West Bank.
When completed, 85 percent of the wall will run inside the West Bank.
The internationally recognized Palestinian territories of which the West Bank and East Jerusalem form a part have been occupied by the Israeli military since 1967.
Mohammed Naim Shehadeh Abu Ayyash
Israeli soldiers shot and critically injured a Palestinian teenager during a protest in Beit Ummar north of Hebron on Friday, medics said.
Medical sources in al-Ahli hospital in Hebron told Ma'an that Mohammad Abu Ayyash, 16, was shot with a live bullet near his ear which penetrated his head.
He is said to be in a critical condition, medics added.
An Israeli army spokeswoman said "approximately 70 Palestinians hurled rocks at security forces, who responded with riot dispersal means. A main instigator hurled an explosive device at the soldiers, and they fired at his lower extremities."
Israeli soldiers shot and critically injured a Palestinian teenager during a protest in Beit Ummar north of Hebron on Friday, medics said.
Medical sources in al-Ahli hospital in Hebron told Ma'an that Mohammad Abu Ayyash, 16, was shot with a live bullet near his ear which penetrated his head.
He is said to be in a critical condition, medics added.
An Israeli army spokeswoman said "approximately 70 Palestinians hurled rocks at security forces, who responded with riot dispersal means. A main instigator hurled an explosive device at the soldiers, and they fired at his lower extremities."
Mohammed Naim Shehadeh Abu Ayyash
She added that the teenager was "lightly injured" and reports of him being shot in the head were "wrong," but was not aware of which hospital he was being treated in.
Beit Ummar has been a site of tension in recent weeks due to Israeli forces' closure and erection of barriers along the town's main road, preventing locals' abilities to travel.
On Monday, Israeli soldiers in the occupied West Bank shot dead at least two Palestinians.
Saji Darwish, 18, was killed after being shot near Ramallah, while Raed Alaa Addin Zieter, 38, was shot dead at the Allenby Bridge crossing with Jordan.
Another Palestinian was killed during a car accident in disputed circumstances near Tulkarem on Monday, with Palestinian security sources saying that Israelis opened fire on the car prior to the crash, a claim the Israeli military denied.
Israeli military forces routinely use "unnecessary, arbitrary and brutal force" against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, with some killings amounting to war crimes, Amnesty International said in February.
She added that the teenager was "lightly injured" and reports of him being shot in the head were "wrong," but was not aware of which hospital he was being treated in.
Beit Ummar has been a site of tension in recent weeks due to Israeli forces' closure and erection of barriers along the town's main road, preventing locals' abilities to travel.
On Monday, Israeli soldiers in the occupied West Bank shot dead at least two Palestinians.
Saji Darwish, 18, was killed after being shot near Ramallah, while Raed Alaa Addin Zieter, 38, was shot dead at the Allenby Bridge crossing with Jordan.
Another Palestinian was killed during a car accident in disputed circumstances near Tulkarem on Monday, with Palestinian security sources saying that Israelis opened fire on the car prior to the crash, a claim the Israeli military denied.
Israeli military forces routinely use "unnecessary, arbitrary and brutal force" against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, with some killings amounting to war crimes, Amnesty International said in February.
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Israeli forces bombed a target in southern Lebanon on Friday hours after an explosive device was detonated on the border, the Israeli military said.
Israeli forces reported that they fired towards Hizbullah "terror infrastructure" in southern Lebanon and confirmed a hit on Friday around 8 p.m. Israeli news website Ynet reported that Israeli forced launched fire from two locations: "tanks deployed in the northern town of Metula which targeted outposts in southern Lebanon and artillery units which arrived on scene and launched artillery rounds on areas near the border." The strike comes just over an hour after Israeli forces said a "concealed explosive device" was activated against Israeli forces who were on the border. |
Ynet reported that three soldiers "who were in the humvee targeted by an explosive device near the border with Lebanon have been evacuated to the Ziv Medical Center in Safed," and would be "screened for injuries related to the blast."
They said that the patrol included "several reconnaissance vehicles."
The site quoted a senior military official as saying that "Hezbollah was involved and Hezbollah will be hurt."
The site added that Israeli forces had "rejected the possibility that the incident was a kidnapping attempt."
Hizbullah-affiliated Lebanese television channel Al-Manar reported that Israeli shells had hit an area near Shuva village in southern Lebanon, while Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar cited a Lebanese security source as saying that 10 shells had hit Lebanon.
They said that the patrol included "several reconnaissance vehicles."
The site quoted a senior military official as saying that "Hezbollah was involved and Hezbollah will be hurt."
The site added that Israeli forces had "rejected the possibility that the incident was a kidnapping attempt."
Hizbullah-affiliated Lebanese television channel Al-Manar reported that Israeli shells had hit an area near Shuva village in southern Lebanon, while Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar cited a Lebanese security source as saying that 10 shells had hit Lebanon.
The Israeli President Shimon Peres stressed that Tel Aviv is ready to commit to the truce reached with the Palestinian resistance in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli radio reported, on Friday, that Peres said the Gaza Strip "will get fire for fire, and a ceasefire for a ceasefire.”
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened to launch a major military operation in Gaza in the framework of "a firm response" to any Palestinian rocket that aims to disturb the celebrations of the Jewish Purim feast.
For his part, the Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said he saw ''no alternative other than a complete takeover of the Gaza Strip'' and would oppose any more limited operation.
The Israeli Army Minister Moshe Yaalon had claimed that Hamas and the Islamic Jihad movements are responsible for the recent escalation in the Strip, and warned that the Israeli army would not hesitate to use all means against them.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened to launch a major military operation in Gaza in the framework of "a firm response" to any Palestinian rocket that aims to disturb the celebrations of the Jewish Purim feast.
For his part, the Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said he saw ''no alternative other than a complete takeover of the Gaza Strip'' and would oppose any more limited operation.
The Israeli Army Minister Moshe Yaalon had claimed that Hamas and the Islamic Jihad movements are responsible for the recent escalation in the Strip, and warned that the Israeli army would not hesitate to use all means against them.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri held on Thursday evening the Israeli occupation fully responsible for the recent escalation in the Gaza Strip, which started three days ago.
In a brief statement, Abu Zuhri confirmed that Israeli threats to his movement have no value, stressing that escalation is linked to Israeli commitment to the truce.
On Tuesday, an Israeli airstrike killed three Palestinian resistance fighters affiliated to Al-Quds Brigades, Islamic Jihad's armed wing, east of Rafah southern Gaza Strip.
Islamic Jihad Movement has earlier declared an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire with Israel, however Israeli military sources denied any agreement has been reached between the two parties under Egyptian mediation, according to Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper.
Israeli war minister Moshe Ya'alon said Thursday that "quiet would be met with quiet", the newspaper quoted.
In a related context, spokesman for Hamas Fawzi Barhoum said that his movement does not trust any Israeli truce, stressing the resistance's readiness in case of Israeli provocations.
Barhoum added that his movement cannot prevent any Palestinian from defending his people and holy sites, stressing Palestinian factions' right of resistance.
If provocations continue, we cannot stand idle; he said holding the occupation full responsibility for the recent escalation.
Hamas aims to create a proper field management between Palestinian factions especially after Shale Stones' Battle in 2012, he continued, we do not trust any truce with the occupation.
He pointed out that contacts have been made between Egyptian Intelligence and Islamic Jihad; however, Israeli airstrikes have been renewed only an hour after.
In a brief statement, Abu Zuhri confirmed that Israeli threats to his movement have no value, stressing that escalation is linked to Israeli commitment to the truce.
On Tuesday, an Israeli airstrike killed three Palestinian resistance fighters affiliated to Al-Quds Brigades, Islamic Jihad's armed wing, east of Rafah southern Gaza Strip.
Islamic Jihad Movement has earlier declared an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire with Israel, however Israeli military sources denied any agreement has been reached between the two parties under Egyptian mediation, according to Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper.
Israeli war minister Moshe Ya'alon said Thursday that "quiet would be met with quiet", the newspaper quoted.
In a related context, spokesman for Hamas Fawzi Barhoum said that his movement does not trust any Israeli truce, stressing the resistance's readiness in case of Israeli provocations.
Barhoum added that his movement cannot prevent any Palestinian from defending his people and holy sites, stressing Palestinian factions' right of resistance.
If provocations continue, we cannot stand idle; he said holding the occupation full responsibility for the recent escalation.
Hamas aims to create a proper field management between Palestinian factions especially after Shale Stones' Battle in 2012, he continued, we do not trust any truce with the occupation.
He pointed out that contacts have been made between Egyptian Intelligence and Islamic Jihad; however, Israeli airstrikes have been renewed only an hour after.
Palestinian youth was injured in his leg after being shot by Israeli gunfire on Thursday night near Benjamin settlement near Ramallah in occupied West Bank.
According to Maariv Hebrew newspaper, Israeli soldiers opened fire at a Palestinian young man while allegedly stoning Israeli vehicles near Benjamin settlement.
The young man was shot in his leg before being transferred to hospital in Ramallah, the sources added.
Israeli soldiers deliberately opened fire at Palestinians near the bypass roads, which is usually used by settlers in the occupied West Bank.
According to Maariv Hebrew newspaper, Israeli soldiers opened fire at a Palestinian young man while allegedly stoning Israeli vehicles near Benjamin settlement.
The young man was shot in his leg before being transferred to hospital in Ramallah, the sources added.
Israeli soldiers deliberately opened fire at Palestinians near the bypass roads, which is usually used by settlers in the occupied West Bank.
Israeli soldiers kidnapped three Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, and violently assaulted a Palestinian at a roadblock near Nablus.
Eyewitnesses said soldiers, stationed at the Yitzhar roadblock, south of Nablus, assaulted resident Mohammad Mustafa Abdul-Jawad, 22, from Tal nearby village.
Medical sources said Abdul-Jawad suffered mild-to-moderate wounds to various parts of his body, after the soldiers assaulted him, and was moved to the Rafidia Hospital, west of Nablus.
Furthermore, soldiers stationed at the Za’tara roadblock, near Nablus, kidnapped one Palestinian identified as Omar Bashir Abdul-Haq, 29.
The army stopped and searched dozens of cars, and interrogated the passengers, before kidnapping Abdul-Haq.
Also on Friday, dozens of soldiers invaded the Aida refugee camp, north of the West Bank city of Bethlehem, and kidnapped two Palestinians.
The Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA) has reported that the soldiers kidnapped Mahmoud Adel Hajajra, 17, and Omar Ahmad Qaraqra, 27, and took them to an unknown destination.
Eyewitnesses said soldiers, stationed at the Yitzhar roadblock, south of Nablus, assaulted resident Mohammad Mustafa Abdul-Jawad, 22, from Tal nearby village.
Medical sources said Abdul-Jawad suffered mild-to-moderate wounds to various parts of his body, after the soldiers assaulted him, and was moved to the Rafidia Hospital, west of Nablus.
Furthermore, soldiers stationed at the Za’tara roadblock, near Nablus, kidnapped one Palestinian identified as Omar Bashir Abdul-Haq, 29.
The army stopped and searched dozens of cars, and interrogated the passengers, before kidnapping Abdul-Haq.
Also on Friday, dozens of soldiers invaded the Aida refugee camp, north of the West Bank city of Bethlehem, and kidnapped two Palestinians.
The Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA) has reported that the soldiers kidnapped Mahmoud Adel Hajajra, 17, and Omar Ahmad Qaraqra, 27, and took them to an unknown destination.
A truce declared by Gaza militants appeared to be holding on Friday with the Israeli military reporting no fresh rocket fire during the night after two days of tit-for-tat violence.
"It's all quiet, there has been no fire overnight," an army spokesman said at 8:00 a.m.
Islamic Jihad announced Thursday that an Egyptian-brokered truce on the Israel-Gaza border had been restored after Israeli warplanes pounded the territory in response to a barrage of rocket fire by its militants.
But the truce, which was to have taken effect at 12:00 GMT on Thursday, was tested when the Israeli military reported further rocket fire from Gaza hours later and launched retaliatory air strikes for a second night.
"Israel Air Force aircraft targeted four terror sites in the southern Gaza Strip and three additional terror sites in the northern Gaza Strip," a military statement released around midnight said.
Witnesses and Palestinian security officials said the targets included facilities near Gaza City used by the military wing of Hamas.
Israeli aircraft also struck a base of the hardline Popular Resistance Committees in the southern town of Rafah.
The army said five rockets hit Israeli territory during the evening. Another two were intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome air defense system.
Three rockets had struck during the morning, before the announcement of the renewed truce.
On Wednesday, at least 60 rockets hit Israel and Israeli warplanes pounded Gaza in response, in the worst violence around the territory since an eight-day conflict between Israel and Hamas in November 2012.
Neither side reported any casualties.
Despite the tit-for-tat violence, experts said Israel was not interested in a major confrontation.
The flare-up began on Tuesday when Islamic Jihad militants fired a mortar round at Israeli troops allegedly trying to enter southern Gaza, prompting a retaliatory air strike that killed three of them.
On Wednesday, Islamic Jihad's armed wing, the Al-Quds Brigades, launched a coordinated barrage of rockets at southern Israel that continued into the night, with the group putting the number at 130.
Israel responded by hitting 29 targets across Gaza that night, including Islamic Jihad and Hamas.
"It's all quiet, there has been no fire overnight," an army spokesman said at 8:00 a.m.
Islamic Jihad announced Thursday that an Egyptian-brokered truce on the Israel-Gaza border had been restored after Israeli warplanes pounded the territory in response to a barrage of rocket fire by its militants.
But the truce, which was to have taken effect at 12:00 GMT on Thursday, was tested when the Israeli military reported further rocket fire from Gaza hours later and launched retaliatory air strikes for a second night.
"Israel Air Force aircraft targeted four terror sites in the southern Gaza Strip and three additional terror sites in the northern Gaza Strip," a military statement released around midnight said.
Witnesses and Palestinian security officials said the targets included facilities near Gaza City used by the military wing of Hamas.
Israeli aircraft also struck a base of the hardline Popular Resistance Committees in the southern town of Rafah.
The army said five rockets hit Israeli territory during the evening. Another two were intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome air defense system.
Three rockets had struck during the morning, before the announcement of the renewed truce.
On Wednesday, at least 60 rockets hit Israel and Israeli warplanes pounded Gaza in response, in the worst violence around the territory since an eight-day conflict between Israel and Hamas in November 2012.
Neither side reported any casualties.
Despite the tit-for-tat violence, experts said Israel was not interested in a major confrontation.
The flare-up began on Tuesday when Islamic Jihad militants fired a mortar round at Israeli troops allegedly trying to enter southern Gaza, prompting a retaliatory air strike that killed three of them.
On Wednesday, Islamic Jihad's armed wing, the Al-Quds Brigades, launched a coordinated barrage of rockets at southern Israel that continued into the night, with the group putting the number at 130.
Israel responded by hitting 29 targets across Gaza that night, including Islamic Jihad and Hamas.
Israeli military sources have reported that the Air Force fired missiles into 29 sites in different parts of the Gaza Strip, alleging that the escalation comes in retaliation for shells fired into Israel from Gaza.
The sources said that the missiles struck what was described as rocket launching pads, monitoring sites, training grounds, and resistance structures belonging to the al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas, and the al-Quds Brigades of the Islamic Jihad.
An Israeli military official said the bombardment “managed to cause significant destruction to sensitive facilities” used by resistance groups in Gaza, mainly armed groups that belong to Hamas and the Islamic Jihad.
The official stated that Israel “will continue to retaliate”, and to hold Hamas fully responsible for the latest round of military escalation.
Israel said that Palestinian fighters also fired shells into the Hof Ashkelon Regional Council of settlements, and that the shells landed and detonated in open areas, causing no injuries or damage.
The attacks came hours after the Islamic Jihad said an understanding for a truce agreement was reached under Egyptian mediation.
On Thursday, at noon, at least three Palestinians were injured when the army bombarded areas in Rafah, southern Gaza, including siege-busting border tunnels.
Furthermore, Israeli Walla News Agency quoted an Israeli security official alleging that Hamas and the Islamic Jihad “raised the white flag” under ongoing Israeli strikes, and that “Israel is interested in calm, but will respond to any escalation.”
The al-Quds Brigades said that its fighters engaged with Israeli soldiers invading an area east of Rafah, firing shells at them.
In a statement, Hamas spokesperson, Sami Abu Zuhri, held Israel responsible for the escalation, saying that Israel’s threats and violence will not deter the resistance that will continue to defend its people.
The latest round of escalation started Wednesday morning [March 12, 2014] when Israel assassinated three fighters of the Islamic Jihad, in Rafah.
The slain fighters have been identified as Ismael Abu Jouda, 23, Shaher Abu Shanab, 24, and Abdul-Shafy Moammar, 33.
Earlier on Tuesday [March 11, 2014], Israeli soldiers shot and killed a young Palestinian man from Atteel village, northwest of Tulkarem in the northern part of the occupied West Bank.
Medical sources said that Fida’ Mohyeeddeen Majadla, 23, was killed after Israeli soldiers opened fire on his car at the al-Kafriyyat roadblock, south of Tulkarem.
On Monday evening [March 10, 2014] resident Saje Darwish, 18, was shot and killed by army fire as he was heading to the family barn, close to the Givat Asaf illegal Israeli settlement, built on lands belonging to residents of Beiteen village, north of Ramallah.
Also on Monday, Israeli forces, stationed at the Allenby Border Terminal with Jordan, shot and killed a Palestinian judge who works in Jordan.
The slain Palestinian has been identified as Raed Ala’ Ed-Deen Z'eitar, 38, from the northern West Bank city of Nablus. He was also a Jordanian citizen.
The escalation, accompanied by ongoing invasions and arrests targeting dozens of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, and occupied East Jerusalem, their homes and lands, created a fertile ground for retaliation which could lead to a large-scale war against Gaza, and possibly escalating clashes in the West Bank.
A Series of Israeli Air Strikes Hit Gaza Strip
A series of Israeli air strikes on Friday targeted several areas in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli warplanes launched at dawn, four air strikes on the city of Rafah, south of the Strip and two others on an area northwest of Gaza city. No injuries were reported.
In a related context, five people were injured on Thursday in Israeli air strikes which targeted the tunnels area at the Palestinian-Egyptian borders near the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah.
The wounded Palestinians were transferred to hospital for medical treatment.
The sources said that the missiles struck what was described as rocket launching pads, monitoring sites, training grounds, and resistance structures belonging to the al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas, and the al-Quds Brigades of the Islamic Jihad.
An Israeli military official said the bombardment “managed to cause significant destruction to sensitive facilities” used by resistance groups in Gaza, mainly armed groups that belong to Hamas and the Islamic Jihad.
The official stated that Israel “will continue to retaliate”, and to hold Hamas fully responsible for the latest round of military escalation.
Israel said that Palestinian fighters also fired shells into the Hof Ashkelon Regional Council of settlements, and that the shells landed and detonated in open areas, causing no injuries or damage.
The attacks came hours after the Islamic Jihad said an understanding for a truce agreement was reached under Egyptian mediation.
On Thursday, at noon, at least three Palestinians were injured when the army bombarded areas in Rafah, southern Gaza, including siege-busting border tunnels.
Furthermore, Israeli Walla News Agency quoted an Israeli security official alleging that Hamas and the Islamic Jihad “raised the white flag” under ongoing Israeli strikes, and that “Israel is interested in calm, but will respond to any escalation.”
The al-Quds Brigades said that its fighters engaged with Israeli soldiers invading an area east of Rafah, firing shells at them.
In a statement, Hamas spokesperson, Sami Abu Zuhri, held Israel responsible for the escalation, saying that Israel’s threats and violence will not deter the resistance that will continue to defend its people.
The latest round of escalation started Wednesday morning [March 12, 2014] when Israel assassinated three fighters of the Islamic Jihad, in Rafah.
The slain fighters have been identified as Ismael Abu Jouda, 23, Shaher Abu Shanab, 24, and Abdul-Shafy Moammar, 33.
Earlier on Tuesday [March 11, 2014], Israeli soldiers shot and killed a young Palestinian man from Atteel village, northwest of Tulkarem in the northern part of the occupied West Bank.
Medical sources said that Fida’ Mohyeeddeen Majadla, 23, was killed after Israeli soldiers opened fire on his car at the al-Kafriyyat roadblock, south of Tulkarem.
On Monday evening [March 10, 2014] resident Saje Darwish, 18, was shot and killed by army fire as he was heading to the family barn, close to the Givat Asaf illegal Israeli settlement, built on lands belonging to residents of Beiteen village, north of Ramallah.
Also on Monday, Israeli forces, stationed at the Allenby Border Terminal with Jordan, shot and killed a Palestinian judge who works in Jordan.
The slain Palestinian has been identified as Raed Ala’ Ed-Deen Z'eitar, 38, from the northern West Bank city of Nablus. He was also a Jordanian citizen.
The escalation, accompanied by ongoing invasions and arrests targeting dozens of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, and occupied East Jerusalem, their homes and lands, created a fertile ground for retaliation which could lead to a large-scale war against Gaza, and possibly escalating clashes in the West Bank.
A Series of Israeli Air Strikes Hit Gaza Strip
A series of Israeli air strikes on Friday targeted several areas in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli warplanes launched at dawn, four air strikes on the city of Rafah, south of the Strip and two others on an area northwest of Gaza city. No injuries were reported.
In a related context, five people were injured on Thursday in Israeli air strikes which targeted the tunnels area at the Palestinian-Egyptian borders near the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah.
The wounded Palestinians were transferred to hospital for medical treatment.
Sheikh Khaled al-Batsh, a senior political leader of the Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip, has reported that Egyptian mediation efforts have managed to achieve a truce between the resistance in Gaza and Israel, based on the understandings reached following Israel’s war on Gaza in 2012.
Al-Batsh said that Palestinian armed resistance groups in Gaza will be committed to the truce as long as Israel respects it.
On his Facebook page, al-Batsh stated that his movement thanks Egypt for its efforts, and saluted all resistance groups, mainly the al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad.
Meanwhile, Israel’s TV Channel 10 quoted a senior Israeli official claiming that news about an Egyptian-mediated truce “are baseless.”
Israel’s online daily, Yedioth Ahronoth, quoted another military official saying “the Egyptians started mediation talks since the escalation started on Wednesday, in an attempt to reach an undeclared truce, but no official truce agreement was reached”.
He added that, despite declaring Hamas a terrorist group, Egyptian officials are still trying to prevent further escalation, and are holding direct talks with representatives of the Islamic Jihad.
Meanwhile, Israel said that, despite truce talks, Palestinian resistance groups in Gaza fired at least 16 shells into southern Israel.
Moshir al-Masry, a political leader of the Hamas movement, said that Egypt never contacted the movement regarding a truce understanding, and that his movement is interested in a ceasefire agreement, but added that “should Israel violate it, the resistance will strike back.”
“We do not want to drag our Palestinian people into any war; armed groups are only retaliating to Israeli shells; so far, Israel is not committed to any truce,” he said. “Israeli leaders are threatening Gaza, our relation with Egypt is fragile, and Egypt needs to reevaluate its stances.”
Mahmoud Zaher, a senior Egyptian military and strategic affairs expert, said that Egypt is willing to improve relations with Hamas, and welcome it, but that Hamas needs to act seriously towards improving these relations.
“Hamas needs to understand that our priority is Palestine and stopping Israel’s aggression,” he said, “Hamas needs to realize that Egypt was the first country that supported the Palestinian resistance.”
Ehab al-Ghaseen, spokesperson of the Hamas-run government in Gaza, stated Thursday that Palestinian armed resistance groups have the right to defend their people, and clearly understand that truce is a national interest.
Al-Ghaseen added that Israel is violating this fragile truce, and is responsible for any further escalation.
On Friday, at dawn, the Israeli Air Force bombarded several locations in the Gaza Strip, causing property damage, but no injuries.
On Thursday afternoon, at least three Palestinians were injured when the army bombarded a border tunnel in Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. One woman in a nearby home was seriously wounded.
Al-Batsh said that Palestinian armed resistance groups in Gaza will be committed to the truce as long as Israel respects it.
On his Facebook page, al-Batsh stated that his movement thanks Egypt for its efforts, and saluted all resistance groups, mainly the al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad.
Meanwhile, Israel’s TV Channel 10 quoted a senior Israeli official claiming that news about an Egyptian-mediated truce “are baseless.”
Israel’s online daily, Yedioth Ahronoth, quoted another military official saying “the Egyptians started mediation talks since the escalation started on Wednesday, in an attempt to reach an undeclared truce, but no official truce agreement was reached”.
He added that, despite declaring Hamas a terrorist group, Egyptian officials are still trying to prevent further escalation, and are holding direct talks with representatives of the Islamic Jihad.
Meanwhile, Israel said that, despite truce talks, Palestinian resistance groups in Gaza fired at least 16 shells into southern Israel.
Moshir al-Masry, a political leader of the Hamas movement, said that Egypt never contacted the movement regarding a truce understanding, and that his movement is interested in a ceasefire agreement, but added that “should Israel violate it, the resistance will strike back.”
“We do not want to drag our Palestinian people into any war; armed groups are only retaliating to Israeli shells; so far, Israel is not committed to any truce,” he said. “Israeli leaders are threatening Gaza, our relation with Egypt is fragile, and Egypt needs to reevaluate its stances.”
Mahmoud Zaher, a senior Egyptian military and strategic affairs expert, said that Egypt is willing to improve relations with Hamas, and welcome it, but that Hamas needs to act seriously towards improving these relations.
“Hamas needs to understand that our priority is Palestine and stopping Israel’s aggression,” he said, “Hamas needs to realize that Egypt was the first country that supported the Palestinian resistance.”
Ehab al-Ghaseen, spokesperson of the Hamas-run government in Gaza, stated Thursday that Palestinian armed resistance groups have the right to defend their people, and clearly understand that truce is a national interest.
Al-Ghaseen added that Israel is violating this fragile truce, and is responsible for any further escalation.
On Friday, at dawn, the Israeli Air Force bombarded several locations in the Gaza Strip, causing property damage, but no injuries.
On Thursday afternoon, at least three Palestinians were injured when the army bombarded a border tunnel in Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. One woman in a nearby home was seriously wounded.
The Israeli army launched late last night several aerial attacks on different areas of the Gaza Strip a few hours after the Palestinian resistance declared that the Egyptian intelligence was able to renew the truce with the Israeli side. According to the Palestinian information center (PIC) reporter in the city, Israeli warplanes fired several missiles at resistance sites in Rafah area, some of them belong to Salahuddin Brigades, the armed wing of the popular resistance committees, and Al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas.
Other air raids targeted an empty land near the previous intelligence headquarters to the west of Gaza city, in addition to other locations used by the resistance for training purposes north of the city.
The aerial attacks caused considerable material damage, with no reported casualties.
Israel waged on Wednesday dozens of airstrikes against resistance posts after Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad Movement, had launched dozens of rocket counterattacks on unpopulated Israeli occupied areas.
Army Bombards Gaza, Truce Fragile
Despite talks of a truce between Israel and Palestinian armed groups in Gaza, the Israeli Air Force said that it carried out on Friday, at dawn, various air strikes targeting different areas in the besieged coastal region.
Palestinian security sources in Gaza, said the Israeli Air Force fired several missiles at two locations in Gaza.
The first target is a training ground used by fighters of the Salah Ed-Deen Brigades, the armed wing of the Popular Resistance Committees, while the second strike targeted a camp used by fighters of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, in Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.
The army also bombarded a land located close to the Safina resistance camp, near Gaza City.
A fourth strike, carried out by the army, targeted an open land in Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.
Medical sources reported no casualties, while excessive damages have been reported.
An Israeli military spokesperson said the army targeted sites in southern and northern Gaza, and alleged that the escalation comes in retaliation to homemade shells fired by resistance groups, in Gaza, targeting adjacent Israeli areas.
In related news, medical sources in Gaza have reported that five Palestinians were wounded in an explosion, in Beit Hanoun, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.
One of the wounded is a 55-year-old woman who suffered a serious injury; all wounded Palestinians were moved to a local hospital.
Although an agreement was reached to declare a truce, the army continued its strikes against Gaza, while armed groups in Gaza fired homemade shells.
Israeli sources quoted a state security official claiming that Hamas and the Islamic Jihad have “raised the White flag, and asked for a truce through media outlets”, according to the sources.
The statements came shortly before Palestinian fighters fired at least eleven shells in retaliation to the Israeli bombardment.
Israeli military officials threatened that “should Palestinian armed groups continue to attack Israel, Tel Aviv will prove it has various means to counter such attacks…”
Commenting on shells fired by fighters of the Islamic Jihad in Gaza, a security official claimed Hamas “knew beforehand shells will be fired into Israel”, and added that Hamas “was surprised by the number of shells, and acted fast to restore calm.”
Other air raids targeted an empty land near the previous intelligence headquarters to the west of Gaza city, in addition to other locations used by the resistance for training purposes north of the city.
The aerial attacks caused considerable material damage, with no reported casualties.
Israel waged on Wednesday dozens of airstrikes against resistance posts after Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad Movement, had launched dozens of rocket counterattacks on unpopulated Israeli occupied areas.
Army Bombards Gaza, Truce Fragile
Despite talks of a truce between Israel and Palestinian armed groups in Gaza, the Israeli Air Force said that it carried out on Friday, at dawn, various air strikes targeting different areas in the besieged coastal region.
Palestinian security sources in Gaza, said the Israeli Air Force fired several missiles at two locations in Gaza.
The first target is a training ground used by fighters of the Salah Ed-Deen Brigades, the armed wing of the Popular Resistance Committees, while the second strike targeted a camp used by fighters of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, in Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.
The army also bombarded a land located close to the Safina resistance camp, near Gaza City.
A fourth strike, carried out by the army, targeted an open land in Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.
Medical sources reported no casualties, while excessive damages have been reported.
An Israeli military spokesperson said the army targeted sites in southern and northern Gaza, and alleged that the escalation comes in retaliation to homemade shells fired by resistance groups, in Gaza, targeting adjacent Israeli areas.
In related news, medical sources in Gaza have reported that five Palestinians were wounded in an explosion, in Beit Hanoun, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.
One of the wounded is a 55-year-old woman who suffered a serious injury; all wounded Palestinians were moved to a local hospital.
Although an agreement was reached to declare a truce, the army continued its strikes against Gaza, while armed groups in Gaza fired homemade shells.
Israeli sources quoted a state security official claiming that Hamas and the Islamic Jihad have “raised the White flag, and asked for a truce through media outlets”, according to the sources.
The statements came shortly before Palestinian fighters fired at least eleven shells in retaliation to the Israeli bombardment.
Israeli military officials threatened that “should Palestinian armed groups continue to attack Israel, Tel Aviv will prove it has various means to counter such attacks…”
Commenting on shells fired by fighters of the Islamic Jihad in Gaza, a security official claimed Hamas “knew beforehand shells will be fired into Israel”, and added that Hamas “was surprised by the number of shells, and acted fast to restore calm.”
13 mar 2014
Islamic Jihad movement leader Khaled al-Batesh said that following intensive Egyptian contacts and efforts, the calm agreement has been restored in Gaza Strip in accordance with understandings reached in 2012 in Cairo. Batesh said on Thursday afternoon on his Facebook page that after Egyptian strenuous efforts the ceasefire has been reinstated, and that the Islamic Jihad movement would hold its fire as long as Israel did the same.
For his part, the movement spokesman Daoud Shihab stressed that his movement was not concerned with the escalation and that the Israeli occupation forces have violated the calm agreement reached with Egyptian mediation in November 2012 more than 1,400 times.
Hebrew sources said that - until this moment - there was no Israeli official confirmation that the truce agreement with Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip has been restored.
The Quds Brigades, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad, fired dozens of rockets at Israeli targets on Wednesday after Israeli soldiers killed three of its fighters a day earlier in an air raid.
The armed wing called its retaliation “breaking the silence”, adding that the firing of those rockets was in reprisal to the Israeli crimes against the Palestinian people in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
For his part, the movement spokesman Daoud Shihab stressed that his movement was not concerned with the escalation and that the Israeli occupation forces have violated the calm agreement reached with Egyptian mediation in November 2012 more than 1,400 times.
Hebrew sources said that - until this moment - there was no Israeli official confirmation that the truce agreement with Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip has been restored.
The Quds Brigades, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad, fired dozens of rockets at Israeli targets on Wednesday after Israeli soldiers killed three of its fighters a day earlier in an air raid.
The armed wing called its retaliation “breaking the silence”, adding that the firing of those rockets was in reprisal to the Israeli crimes against the Palestinian people in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
A senior Islamic Jihad official said Thursday that Egypt had managed to reactivate a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip.
Khalid al-Batsh highlighted that his movement would adhere with the ceasefire "on condition that the occupation adheres."
"After prompt Egyptian efforts, the terms of the 2012 ceasefire were reactivated Thursday."
A major eight-day confrontation in November 2012 between Israel and militants from Gaza claimed the lives of 177 Palestinians, mostly civilians, and six Israelis.
Before the announcement Thursday, Israeli warplanes struck several targets in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, security and medical sources told Ma’an.
Locals in Rafah told Ma’an that airstrikes targeted a smuggling tunnel under the borders with Egypt. Three Palestinians were injured in the strike.
Israeli jets also fired missiles at an open area in Rafah. No casualties were reported.
A spokesman of the Hamas-run ministry of health in Gaza Ashraf al-Qidra told Ma'an that three Palestinian citizens were injured in the airstrike which targeted a tunnel in Rafah.
He confirmed that one victim sustained critical wounds and the two others suffered minor injuries.
In a statement, Israel's military confirmed seven strikes and said they were in response to rocket fire.
"Since yesterday there has seen a substantial deterioration in the safety of the residents in southern Israel. We have responded and will continue to do so in order to eliminate threats as they develop. This is our obligation and responsibility to those exposed to Gaza terrorism," army spokesman Peter Lerner said.
The statement said that two rockets hit southern Israel on Thursday. Approximately 65 have hit Israeli territory since Wednesday, out of which five hit populated areas, it said.
Khalid al-Batsh highlighted that his movement would adhere with the ceasefire "on condition that the occupation adheres."
"After prompt Egyptian efforts, the terms of the 2012 ceasefire were reactivated Thursday."
A major eight-day confrontation in November 2012 between Israel and militants from Gaza claimed the lives of 177 Palestinians, mostly civilians, and six Israelis.
Before the announcement Thursday, Israeli warplanes struck several targets in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, security and medical sources told Ma’an.
Locals in Rafah told Ma’an that airstrikes targeted a smuggling tunnel under the borders with Egypt. Three Palestinians were injured in the strike.
Israeli jets also fired missiles at an open area in Rafah. No casualties were reported.
A spokesman of the Hamas-run ministry of health in Gaza Ashraf al-Qidra told Ma'an that three Palestinian citizens were injured in the airstrike which targeted a tunnel in Rafah.
He confirmed that one victim sustained critical wounds and the two others suffered minor injuries.
In a statement, Israel's military confirmed seven strikes and said they were in response to rocket fire.
"Since yesterday there has seen a substantial deterioration in the safety of the residents in southern Israel. We have responded and will continue to do so in order to eliminate threats as they develop. This is our obligation and responsibility to those exposed to Gaza terrorism," army spokesman Peter Lerner said.
The statement said that two rockets hit southern Israel on Thursday. Approximately 65 have hit Israeli territory since Wednesday, out of which five hit populated areas, it said.
Israeli warplanes struck several targets in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip Thursday afternoon, security and medical sources told Ma’an.
Locals in Rafah told Ma’an that airstrikes targeted a smuggling tunnel under the borders with Egypt. Three Palestinians were injured in the strike.
Israeli jets also fired missiles at an open area in Rafah. No casualties were reported.
A spokesman of the Hamas-run ministry of health in Gaza Ashraf al-Qidra told Ma'an that three Palestinian citizens were injured in the airstrike which targeted a tunnel in Rafah.
He confirmed that one victim sustained critical wounds and the two others suffered minor injuries.
In a statement, Israel's military confirmed seven strikes and said they were in response to rocket fire.
"Since yesterday there has seen a substantial deterioration in the safety of the residents in southern Israel. We have responded and will continue to do so in order to eliminate threats as they develop. This is our obligation and responsibility to those exposed to Gaza terrorism," army spokesman Peter Lerner said.
The statement said that two rockets hit southern Israel on Thursday. Approximately 65 have hit Israeli territory since Wednesday, out of which five hit populated areas, it said.
Locals in Rafah told Ma’an that airstrikes targeted a smuggling tunnel under the borders with Egypt. Three Palestinians were injured in the strike.
Israeli jets also fired missiles at an open area in Rafah. No casualties were reported.
A spokesman of the Hamas-run ministry of health in Gaza Ashraf al-Qidra told Ma'an that three Palestinian citizens were injured in the airstrike which targeted a tunnel in Rafah.
He confirmed that one victim sustained critical wounds and the two others suffered minor injuries.
In a statement, Israel's military confirmed seven strikes and said they were in response to rocket fire.
"Since yesterday there has seen a substantial deterioration in the safety of the residents in southern Israel. We have responded and will continue to do so in order to eliminate threats as they develop. This is our obligation and responsibility to those exposed to Gaza terrorism," army spokesman Peter Lerner said.
The statement said that two rockets hit southern Israel on Thursday. Approximately 65 have hit Israeli territory since Wednesday, out of which five hit populated areas, it said.
Israel’s Cabinet for diplomatic and security affairs will hold an emergency meeting Thursday morning to discuss new ways of attacking the Gaza strip after Israeli jets raids against Gaza last night. Leaders of the occupation forces will attend the meeting and propose their views “to respond” to the escalation in the Gaza Strip, according to Hebrew website, Walla.
Two days ago, Israeli occupation warplanes assassinated three fighters from al-Quds Brigades. As a result, the brigades responded to the attack.
In spite of the ceasefire signed between Palestinian resistance and Israel after the aggression against Gaza in 2012, Israeli forces carry out daily violations by attacking Palestinians on Gaza borders and sea.
Two days ago, Israeli occupation warplanes assassinated three fighters from al-Quds Brigades. As a result, the brigades responded to the attack.
In spite of the ceasefire signed between Palestinian resistance and Israel after the aggression against Gaza in 2012, Israeli forces carry out daily violations by attacking Palestinians on Gaza borders and sea.
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The military wing of the Islamic Jihad movement on Thursday posted a video on YouTube with a message in Hebrew addressing the Israeli people, government and army about the recent escalation in the coastal enclave.
The message, read by a masked gunman, told Israeli soldiers that they would never be safe in Palestine. "You can't enjoy any inaccessibility in our country! Number one: To the government of Zionist terrorism, both your warplanes and missiles will be stopped and we will block them by our chests and you will not achieve your goals. Number two, to the coward Zionist army, we in the al-Quds Brigades are |
ready to reach you. You will have to choose between being dead or captured."
Addressing the Israeli people, the message moved to a third warning three urging the Israeli public to avoid allowing their "extremist leaders" to control their lives. Your leaders, added the message, have been busy waging wars and they aren't willing to live in peace.
"We hereby call upon you to leave our country and look for a country for you. News isn’t what you hear, but rather what you see."
Addressing the Israeli people, the message moved to a third warning three urging the Israeli public to avoid allowing their "extremist leaders" to control their lives. Your leaders, added the message, have been busy waging wars and they aren't willing to live in peace.
"We hereby call upon you to leave our country and look for a country for you. News isn’t what you hear, but rather what you see."
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Overnight, Israeli warplanes carried out raids on 29 targets in Gaza, hitting bases used by militants from Gaza's ruling Hamas movement and from the al-Quds Brigade.
They followed dozens of rocket attacks by the al-Quds Brigades the same day in response to an Israeli airstrike that killed three members of the militant group a day earlier. Also Thursday, the group said its fighters used a new missile launcher which was never used before. In a statement, the al-Quds Brigades said that the new launcher was used Wednesday evening in the battle "Breaking the Silence". |
The statement added that the group's fighters fired more than 130 different missiles and shells at Israeli towns bordering the Gaza Strip "in response to the Israeli aggression."
Photos of the new launcher were attached with the statement, which arrived by email. A video will be released later, according to the statement.
Photos of the new launcher were attached with the statement, which arrived by email. A video will be released later, according to the statement.
A group of Palestinian resistance fighters survived an Israeli air raid to the east of Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip, on Wednesday night. A field observer told Quds Press that an Israeli reconnaissance plane fired at least one missile at a group of fighters east of Khan Younis.
He said that the fighters miraculously escaped unharmed after they left the targeted area before the missile hit the ground.
He said that the fighters miraculously escaped unharmed after they left the targeted area before the missile hit the ground.
Israeli warplanes bombed agricultural land to the north of Gaza Strip on Wednesday night; no casualties were reported. The Quds Brigades, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad, fired dozens of rockets and projectiles at Israeli targets on Wednesday after Israeli occupation forces killed three of its cadres in an air raid on Tuesday.
The armed wing called its retaliation “breaking the silence”, adding that the firing of those rockets was in reprisal to the Israeli crimes against the Palestinian people in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Radio Israel acknowledged suffering material losses in the attack, adding that the army told citizens in the southern cities to remain in shelters.
The armed wing called its retaliation “breaking the silence”, adding that the firing of those rockets was in reprisal to the Israeli crimes against the Palestinian people in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Radio Israel acknowledged suffering material losses in the attack, adding that the army told citizens in the southern cities to remain in shelters.