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| Thursday, Jul 10 '14, Tammuz 12, 5774 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1. IDF Warns Gazans Near Border to Evacuate Immediately by Ari Yashar  The IDF on Thursday afternoon contacted by phone Arab residents of Gaza living near the security border, warning them to evacuate their homes immediately. The phone calls were sent to a total of roughly 100,000 Arab residents of the Hamas stronghold. Among the cities and towns targeted in the phone warning were Beit Lahia, Beit Hanoun, and Absan, according to Walla!. In the phone warning, residents were told to evacuate and go to the west or south, in order to avoid civilian casualties. Over 800 terrorist targets have been struck as of Thursday in Operation Protective Edge; the latest phone warnings indicate that the operation may be moving into a new stage and entering a ground offensive. The government has already approved a call-up of 40,000 reserve IDF soldiers, with 20,000 having already been called up to the Gaza border in anticipation of a possible ground incursion. Ahead of the phone warning today, Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon on Wednesday announced that the operation would be expanded in coming days. "We will continue to hit Hamas and other terror groups in the (Gaza) Strip with heavy blows from the air, from the sea and from the ground so as to ensure the security of Israeli citizens. The campaign against Hamas will expand in the coming days, and the price the organization will pay will be very heavy," warned Ya'alon. Following Ya'alon's tone, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz on Wednesday approved all of the plans for an IDF ground offensive into Gaza according to IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Moti Almoz, who added that the pressure on Gaza will grow in the coming hours. Also Wednesday, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu warned that Israel would continue to expand the scope of Operation Protective Edge until rocket fire stopped. "We are all united in the mission to strike at the terrorist organizations and restore quiet," the prime minister said in a statement following consultation with Israeli military chiefs. "The operation will be expanded and will continue until the firing at our communities stops and quiet is restored." "I ask that the public continue to listen to the instructions from IDF Home Front Command – they save lives," he added And on the same day, outgoing President Shimon Peres said in an interview that "if they won't stop their missiles, there will be a ground attack. That is the logical conclusion." Hamas has been showering Israeli civilian population centers with rocket fire in recent weeks. Several people have been injured and large parts of the country have been shut down as terrorists utilize long-range rockets to reach central Israel, and as far north as the port city of Haifa. More on this topic
Comment on this story 2. Four Rockets on Jerusalem Area, Two Intercepted by Arutz Sheva  The sirens alerting Israelis to incoming rockets sounded early Thursday evening in Jerusalem, Beit Shemesh, Maaleh Adumim, Binyamin and Samaria regions. Initial reports say Iron Dome rockets intercepted two missiles over Jerusalem, out of a total of four that were fired at it. Additional details are not yet available. In addition, a heavy salvo of rockets was fired at southern Israel, and a direct hit was scored on a home in the Shaar Hanegev region. No one was hurt. Earlier in the afternoon, terrorists launched yet another heavy barrage of rockets at Israeli cities in the center of the country. Sirens were heard in Ramle, Lod, Nes Tziyona, Yavne, and other areas south of Rishon Lezion. Several of the missiles were destroyed in mid-air by the Iron Dome anti-missile defense system, while others fell in open areas. No injuries or damage were reported. The rockets at the central plain cities were a continuation of the heavy barrage that Israel faced on Thursday, the third day of Operation Protective Edge. Six missiles were fired at Tel Aviv Thursday, with a barrage of four missiles fired at about 8 AM, as tens of thousands of commuters were driving into the Tel Aviv area. Two more missiles were fired at about 11:30 AM. All six were shot down by Iron Dome missiles. No damage to any buildings was reported, although several cars were said to have been struck by shrapnel. One woman was treated for shock in Ramat Gan, Magen David Adom officials said. On both occasions, warning sirens were heard in Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan, Bnei Brak, Holon, and Bat Yam. Hamas took responsibility for at least four of the rockets, with Islamic Jihad terrorists firing the other two. More on this topic Comment on this story  3. Suspected Car Bomb Stopped on Road to Tel Aviv by Orly Harari, Gil Ronen  The security officers of the Checkpoints Authority arrested, early Thursday afternoon, a Palestinian Arab man who was apparently transporting a bomb in his car and who they believe was en route to carrying out a terror attack in central Israel.  The car was stopped for a routine check at the checkpoint on Highway 5 that transverses Samaria from east to west, and leads directly into the northern outskirts of Tel Aviv. One of the officers noticed a bag between the driver's legs. Inside it was a gas balloon, connected ot electric wires. He was taken to interrogation and admitted, under initial questioning, that he had been on his way to carry out an attack. The checkpoint was closed to traffic and Highway 5 blocked in both directions, as sappers handled the bomb. More to follow. More on this topic Comment on this story 4. After Mauling Hamas From the Air, IDF to 'Deepen the Damage' by Gil Ronen  The IDF Spokesman's Unit said Thursday that the IDF has struck about 60 terror targets in Gaza since the morning hours, on Day 3 of Operation Protective Edge, and that it intends to "deepen the damage" to Hamas.  All in all, about 800 terror targets have been hit since the operation began on Monday night. Among the targets attacked were leadership offices, homes of senior Hamas officers, tunnels, buried launchers, communication infrastructure, military outposts and weapons stores. The IDF Navy attacked several coastal targets. These attacks included the firing of dozens of shells by the Missile Ship Reconnaissance Unit at Hamas weapons stores and military outposts. In addition, the IDF and Israel Security Agency (ISA, or Shin Bet), attacked the homes of senior terrorists that served as command and control infrastructures for the Hamas organization. Among the homes attacked were those of: Oubal Jandiya – Deputy Commander of Hamas forces in Sejaeeya, born 1978. Forces under his command fired at IDF forces. Jandiya also participated in fighting in 2012's Operation Pillar of Defense. Arafat Abu Abdullah – Commander of Islamic Jihad forces in central Gaza camps, born 1989. Abu Abadullah is responsible for all Islamic Jihad terror activity from this region, and has directed rocket fire against Israel during the latest escalation. Mahdi Kuware – senior Hamas operative in Khan Younis. Nassim Abu Ajinah – senior Hamas commander in Bayt Lahiya region, born 1984. Responsible for growth of terror forces in his region and for much of Gaza's extensive tunnels system, used to smuggle weapons and hide rocket positions. Shadi Saleh Rajeb – senior Hamas operative in Bayt Lahiya, born 1983. Resposible for rocket fire against Israel. "The IDF is determined and will continue to systematically attack targets until meaningful damage is caused to the Hamas terror organization, and will take action to destroy the terror infrastructures that operate against the citizens of Israel," the military said in a statement Thursday. "The IDF has inflicted serious damage to Hamas, its infrastructures and all elements using terror against the state of Israel and its citizens, and will deepen this damage." Precisely how the IDF seeks to "deepen the damage" is becoming increasingly clearer, as preparations for a ground incursion appear to be underway. The IDF on Thursday afternoon contacted by phone Arab residents of Gaza living near the security border, warning them to evacuate their homes immediately. The phone calls were made to a total of roughly 100,000 Arab residents of the Hamas stronghold. The phone warnings indicate that the operation may be moving into a new stage and entering a ground offensive. More on this topic
Comment on this story 5. Watch: Chabad 'Mitzvah Tank' Joins Troops at the Front Line by Arutz Sheva Staff  As the Israel Defense Forces mobilize for what looks to be an imminent ground offensive to root-out Gaza-based terrorists, troops on the fronts lines were joined by a different kind of "tank". A group of Chabad activists traveled to the border with Gaza in their "Mitzvah Tank" - a truck loaded not with weapons or ammunition, but with holy items to provide spiritual and moral support to the soldiers who at any minute could be called into battle. It's a scene which has become increasingly common before major operations, as even otherwise secular soldiers line up to "lay tefillin", say prayers and thank their guests, who expressed their gratitude to the men and women risking their lives for the people of Israel.                                                    Tags: Chabad, IDF, Operation Protective Edge More on this topic
Comment on this story 6. ISIS Spokesman Explains Why 'Islamic State' Not Supporting Hamas by Dalit Halevi and Ari Soffer  The Islamic State, or ISIS, has responded to critics who have questioned why its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is not actively supporting Hamas in fighting Israel. After capturing vast swathes of Iraq and Syria, ISIS declared the regions under its control as a "Caliphate", or Islamic state, and appointed Baghdadi as "leader of the Muslims". While many jihadists celebrated the announcement, others - including Al Qaeda, which ISIS broke off from last year - have criticized the move for a variety of reasons. Since the recent escalation between Israel and Islamist terrorists in Gaza, some of those critics have questioned why a self-declared "Caliphate" is not rushing to the aid of Muslims in the Hamas-controlled territory. In a statement a spokesperson for the group, Nidal Nuseiri reaffirmed that conquering "Bayt el-Maqdis" (Jerusalem) and destroying the State of Israel is central to the group's "jihad", or holy war. However, he pointed out that ISIS has been taking a systematic approach in its campaign, and outlined six specific stages it said needed to be fulfilled before taking on Israel. Some of those "stages" - building a firm base for an Islamic state in Iraq, and using it as a springboard to wage war in Syria and Lebanon - have already been achieved. But he said a number of other criteria still needed to be fulfilled before challenging Israel directly. Among them, Nuseiri said that the US - seen as Israel's greatest ally - needed to be weakened politically and economically via attacks on the American mainland, as well as US interests in Muslim countries. Additionally, the existing "Islamic State" needed to expand its borders to cover all of "Greater Syria" (which would include Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jorislamdan and possibly Gaza); such a state, he said, would then be in a position for a direct confrontation with Israel. Tags: Hamas, Gaza Region, ISIS, Operation Protective Edge More on this topic
Comment on this story 7. IDF Admits It Missed Senior Hamas Rocket Commander by Arutz Sheva Staff  The IDF has admitted that it failed to eliminate a leading Hamas commander Thursday, who was responsible for the Islamist group's rocket arsenal, reported Channel 2. Initially, the IDF said the man, Ayman Siam, was killed inside a car that was targeted by the IDF. Ayman Siam would have been the most senior terrorist figure killed by Israel since Operation Defensive Edge began three days ago. But Hamas's "military wing" Ezzadine al-Kassam, denied the report and said he was not inside the car that was targeted. "He is continuing in his acts of jihad. We call on the media to be precise and not to rely on Israel's lies." The IDF later took back its claim that Siam was killed. A short time after this strike, three Islamic Jihad terrorists were killed: Mahmoud Walud, Hazem Balusha and Alaa Abd-el Nabi. Abd-el Nabi was a senior figure in the rocket array in norethern Gaza. Israel continued to batter Hamas and other Gaza-based terrorist groups Thursday in a bid to stamp out rocket fire against Israeli civilians. An IDF statement said that on Thursday morning alone 70 "terror targets" were struck by the air force, bringing the total number of targets hit to over 800 - more than double the number hit by the IAF in 2012 six-day Pillar of Defense operation. Among the targets were administrative buildings belonging to terrorist groups, smuggling tunnels, concealed rocket launchers, propaganda outlets and the homes of terrorist leaders. Although most strikes were performed by the IAF, the Israeli navy has also played an active role, succeeded in destroying several Hamas weapons stores and military positions. Although Hamas's leadership has gone into hiding since the start of the operation, the IDF has upped the pressure on them by destroying their homes. In addition, three senior Islamic Jihad terrorists were killed in an IDF strike on their car this morning. More to follow. More on this topic
Comment on this story 8. Missiles Fired at Tel Aviv for the Second Time Thursday by Moshe Cohen  A second set of missiles were fired at Tel Aviv Thursday afternoon. After four rockets were fired at the Gush Dan region at about 8 AM, two more were fired at about noon. All six were shot down by Iron Dome missiles. No damage was reported, although several cars were said to have been struck by shrapnel. One woman was treated for shock in Ramat Gan, Magen David Adom officials said. On both occasions, warning sirens were heard in Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan, Bnei Brak, Holon, and Bat Yam. Hamas took responsibility for at least four of the rockets, with Islamic Jihad terrorists firing the other two. The earlier missiles were fired to coincide with the morning commute, as hundreds of thousands of people were traveling into the Tel Aviv area. Reports said that pedestrians headed into buildings seeking safe shelter when the sirens went off, while some drivers who were stuck in stop and go traffic attempted to pull over to the side of the road and find a place to hide from the incoming missiles. Homefront Command officials said that there were no reports of damage, while some reports said that several individuals were injured by shrapnel from pieces of the destroyed missiles that fell to the ground. Magen David Adom officials said that at least one traffic accident appeared to have been caused by the attack. A bus and passenger vehicle collided on Road 4 near the Geha Junction in Bnei Brak as the siren went off. No one was injured in the accident, officials said. Homefront Command officials appealed to Israelis not to congregate in the areas where pieces of destroyed rockets fall after they are exploded by the Iron Dome system. Such congregation is dangerous, the officials said, since Hamas terrorists could fire rockets at the same site after a crowd gathered, placing those at the scene in grave danger. Speaking to Israel Radio, the director of a kindergarten in central Tel Aviv described the “controlled panic” that the children experienced as they entered a bomb shelter. “We sang songs with them and the many adults that came in as well, and after a few minutes we went to the classrooms. We try to keep a 'happy face' on for the children, but it is getting harder,” the director said. The Iron Dome anti-missile defense system is used only against rockets that are seen to be headed toward populated or industrial areas. If the Iron Dome system judges that an enemy rocket will strike ground harmlessly in an empty area, the battery's operators usually opt to let the rocket fall and explode instead of wasting costly Iron Dome missiles on intercepting it. On Wednesday, Hamas terrorists fired long-range rockets that were able to reach the southern suburbs of Haifa. Sirens sounded near Haifa in Hadera, Zikhron Ya'akov, Caesarea and Hof HaBonim on Wednesday afternoon - at least 45 kilometers (almost 30 miles) north of Tel Aviv, and the farthest attack recorded from Gaza in the ongoing rocket barrage. Two rockets landed in the sea near Haifa, according to AFP, noting the city is 165 kilometers (102 miles) away from the Hamas stronghold of Gaza. More on this topic
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