10 july 2014
Rockets capable of hitting deeper into Israel than ever before and naval commandos launching a beachhead assault show that Hamas has increased its capabilities with help from Iran and Syria, analysts said Wednesday.
The last Israeli offensive against Gaza was meant to have degraded the Palestinian militant group's capabilities but less than two years later, Hamas is firing new longer-range projectiles, they said.
An "unprecedented" attack by four Hamas militants who emerged from the sea to attack an Israeli military base shows the group is also trying to break the naval blockade of the coastal enclave.
"Hamas were very badly damaged by the Israeli defense forces back in 2012, but since that time they have been re-equipped significantly by Iran and also by weapons from Syria," Colonel Richard Kemp, of the Royal United Services Institute think-tank in London, told AFP.
The main weapon employed by Hamas and their armed wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, is an arsenal of unguided rockets.
Hamas was believed to have had 10,000 rockets before the 2012 confrontation, and it is unclear how many are left, but Firas Abi Ali of analysts Country Risk IHS said they still likely had "thousands".
As in 2012, they include Iranian-made Fajr-5 missiles with a range of 75 kilometers and Gaza-built M75 rockets with a range of 80 kilometers -- both of which can reach Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
But Hamas has since acquired Syrian M-302 rockets which have a range of up to 160 kilometers.
On Tuesday, one of these hit the town of Hadera, 116 kilometers north of Gaza, while on Wednesday Israeli media reported that two had crashed into the sea near the port of Haifa, 165 kilometers north of Gaza, which if confirmed would be the furthest a rocket from Gaza has ever traveled.
Crude Qassam rockets have a range of four to 15 kilometers.
The rockets are all unguided but the sheer intensity of the barrages is aimed at "overwhelming" Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system, said Ali.
"Hamas has been able to, over the last couple of years, increase not just the number of rockets that it has, but the frequency of its rocket fire," he told AFP.
Hamas aiming for ground war
Most of the rockets are believed to have been smuggled through tunnels into Gaza but others came in by sea while still more were being made in the strip itself.
Meanwhile the seaborne Hamas commando attack was a further surprise.
"This is unprecedented," said Ali.
"This suggests sophisticated training, sophisticated planning, good intelligence on the Israelis and the ability to maintain tactical surprise."
Iranian equipment or training was likely involved, added Kemp.
Figures for Hamas' military strength are also unclear, but the International Institute of Strategic Studies think-tank's Military Balance 2014 assessment said the al-Qassam brigades had around 10,000 members while Hamas internal security groupings number around 12,000.
Analysts said Hamas and its backers had a clear aim for their military build-up: to drag Israel into a ground war.
"The escalation that Hamas has engaged in seems to be intended to draw Israel into a ground offensive in Gaza, in which Hamas hopes that it can inflict a heavy number of casualties," Ali said.
Israeli forces entering Gaza would face likely attack by Hamas anti-tank weapons, including Kornet missiles used by Hezbollah in the 2006 Lebanon war, and improvised explosive devices, analysts said.
There would also be a possibility of capturing Israeli soldiers for prisoner swaps.
Meanwhile the wider Middle East situation had a bearing on the Gaza build-up, analysts said.
Iran and Hamas fell out over Tehran's support for President Bashar Assad's regime in Syria but there had been a recent "rapprochement", especially after Hamas's allies the Muslim Brotherhood were driven out of power in Egypt last year, said Kemp.
Syria meanwhile remains a source for the weaponry even if some of the advice is from Iran.
Israel would also be closely watching for any potential future links between Hamas and the Islamic State jihadist group, which has conquered a swathe of Iraq and Syria.
"There are certainly groups linked to the Islamic State present in Gaza," said Kemp.
The last Israeli offensive against Gaza was meant to have degraded the Palestinian militant group's capabilities but less than two years later, Hamas is firing new longer-range projectiles, they said.
An "unprecedented" attack by four Hamas militants who emerged from the sea to attack an Israeli military base shows the group is also trying to break the naval blockade of the coastal enclave.
"Hamas were very badly damaged by the Israeli defense forces back in 2012, but since that time they have been re-equipped significantly by Iran and also by weapons from Syria," Colonel Richard Kemp, of the Royal United Services Institute think-tank in London, told AFP.
The main weapon employed by Hamas and their armed wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, is an arsenal of unguided rockets.
Hamas was believed to have had 10,000 rockets before the 2012 confrontation, and it is unclear how many are left, but Firas Abi Ali of analysts Country Risk IHS said they still likely had "thousands".
As in 2012, they include Iranian-made Fajr-5 missiles with a range of 75 kilometers and Gaza-built M75 rockets with a range of 80 kilometers -- both of which can reach Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
But Hamas has since acquired Syrian M-302 rockets which have a range of up to 160 kilometers.
On Tuesday, one of these hit the town of Hadera, 116 kilometers north of Gaza, while on Wednesday Israeli media reported that two had crashed into the sea near the port of Haifa, 165 kilometers north of Gaza, which if confirmed would be the furthest a rocket from Gaza has ever traveled.
Crude Qassam rockets have a range of four to 15 kilometers.
The rockets are all unguided but the sheer intensity of the barrages is aimed at "overwhelming" Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system, said Ali.
"Hamas has been able to, over the last couple of years, increase not just the number of rockets that it has, but the frequency of its rocket fire," he told AFP.
Hamas aiming for ground war
Most of the rockets are believed to have been smuggled through tunnels into Gaza but others came in by sea while still more were being made in the strip itself.
Meanwhile the seaborne Hamas commando attack was a further surprise.
"This is unprecedented," said Ali.
"This suggests sophisticated training, sophisticated planning, good intelligence on the Israelis and the ability to maintain tactical surprise."
Iranian equipment or training was likely involved, added Kemp.
Figures for Hamas' military strength are also unclear, but the International Institute of Strategic Studies think-tank's Military Balance 2014 assessment said the al-Qassam brigades had around 10,000 members while Hamas internal security groupings number around 12,000.
Analysts said Hamas and its backers had a clear aim for their military build-up: to drag Israel into a ground war.
"The escalation that Hamas has engaged in seems to be intended to draw Israel into a ground offensive in Gaza, in which Hamas hopes that it can inflict a heavy number of casualties," Ali said.
Israeli forces entering Gaza would face likely attack by Hamas anti-tank weapons, including Kornet missiles used by Hezbollah in the 2006 Lebanon war, and improvised explosive devices, analysts said.
There would also be a possibility of capturing Israeli soldiers for prisoner swaps.
Meanwhile the wider Middle East situation had a bearing on the Gaza build-up, analysts said.
Iran and Hamas fell out over Tehran's support for President Bashar Assad's regime in Syria but there had been a recent "rapprochement", especially after Hamas's allies the Muslim Brotherhood were driven out of power in Egypt last year, said Kemp.
Syria meanwhile remains a source for the weaponry even if some of the advice is from Iran.
Israel would also be closely watching for any potential future links between Hamas and the Islamic State jihadist group, which has conquered a swathe of Iraq and Syria.
"There are certainly groups linked to the Islamic State present in Gaza," said Kemp.
Relatives carry the body of a boy killed in an Israeli air strike on Gaza on July 9, 2014
The Gaza health ministry has confirmed the deaths of 81 Palestinians so far in the besieged strip since Israel began its relentless assault early Tuesday. Among those killed, at least 20 were aged 16 or younger. The youngest victim, 18-month-old Mohammed Malakiyeh, was killed along with his 27-year-old mother. The oldest victim, 80-year-old Naifeh Farjallah, was killed in an air strike on the town of Moghraqa, southwest of Gaza City.
The two deadliest strikes killed eight people each: One strike Tuesday on the Hamad family home in southern Gaza, and another on Thursday on the Hajj family home in Khan Younis. Five children were among the dead in the latter bombing.
Victims’ names and ages were compiled based on information released by the Gaza health ministry, while the circumstances of the deaths were taken from the ministry and local news sources.
There have been no Israeli casualties since the beginning of the offensive.
Al-Akhbar will update the list as new information is released.
Tuesday, July 8:
1. Mohammed Sha’aban, 24, was killed in a bombing of his car in Gaza City.
2. Ahmad Sha’aban, 30, died in the same bombing.
3. Khadir al-Bashiliki, 45, died in the same bombing.
4. Rashad Yaseen, 27, was killed in a bombing of the Nusseirat refugee camp in central Gaza.
5. Riad Mohammed Kawareh, 50, was killed in a bombing of his family’s home in Khan Younis.
6. Seraj Ayad Abed al-A’al, 8, was wounded in the same bombing and succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday evening.
7. Mohammed Ayman Ashour, 15, died in the same bombing.
8. Bakr Mohammed Joudah, 22, died in the same bombing.
9. Ammar Mohammed Joudah, 26, died in the same bombing.
10. Hussein Yousef Kawareh, 13, died in the same bombing.
11. Mohammed Ibrahim Kawareh, 50, died in the same bombing.
12. Bassim Salim Kawareh, 10, died in the same bombing.
13. Mousa Habib, 16, from Gaza City’s al-Shujaiyah neighborhood, was killed along with his 22-year old cousin while the pair were riding a motorcycle.
14. Mohammed Habib, 22, was killed with Mousa Habib.
15. Sakr Aysh al-Ajouri, 22, was killed in an attack on Jabaliyah, in northern Gaza.
16. Ahmad Na’el Mehdi, 16, from Gaza City’s Sheikh Radwan neighborhood, was killed in a bombing that wounded two of his friends.
17. Hafiz Mohammed Hamad, 30, an Islamic Jihad commander, was killed in the bombing of his home in Beit Hanoun, along with five of his family members.
18. Ibrahim Mohammed Hamad, 26, died in the same bombing.
19. Mehdi Mohammed Hamad, 46, died in the same bombing.
20. Fawzia Khalil Hamad, 62, died in the same bombing.
21. Dunia Mehdi Hamad, 16, died in the same bombing.
22. Suha Hamad, 25, died in the same bombing.
23. Suleiman Salman Abu Soaween, 22
Wednesday, July 9:
24. Abdelhadi Jamaat al-Sufi, 24, was killed in a bombing near the Rafah crossing.
25. Naifeh Farjallah, 80, was killed in an airstrike on the town of Moghraqa, southwest of Gaza City.
26. Abdelnasser Abu Kweek, 60, was killed in the bombing of Gaza’s central governorate along with his son.
27. Khaled Abu Kweek, 31, Abdelnasser Abu Kweek’s son, was killed in the same bombing.
28. Amir Areef, 13, died in a bombing in Sha’af.
29. Mohammed Malkiyeh, one and a half years old, died in a bombing along with his mother and a young man.
30. Amniyeh Malkiyeh, 27, Mohammed Malkiyeh’s mother, died in the same bombing.
31. Hatem Abu Salem, 28, died in the same bombing.
32. Mohammed Khaled al-Nimri, 22
33. Sahar Hamdan, 40, died in the bombing of her home in Beit Hanoun.
34. Ibrahim Masri, 14, Sahar Hamdan’s son, was killed in the same bombing.
35. Sumoud al-Nawasra, a mother, was killed in a bombing along with her two children.
36. Mohammed Khalaf al-Nawasra, 4, arrived at the hospital “in shreds.”
37. Nidal Khalaf al-Nawasra, a child of unreported age, died along with Mohammed and Sumoud.
38. Salah Awwad al-Nawasra, was killed in the same bombing. His body was found under the rubble of the house.
39. Aisha Nijm
40. Amal Youssef Abdel Ghafour
41. Ranim Jawde Abdel Ghafour, a young girl
42. Rashid al-Kafarneh, 30, was killed when the motorcycle he was riding was bombed.
43. Ibrahim Daoud al-Balawi, 24
44. Abdelrahman Jamal al-Zamli, 22
45. Ibrahim Ahmad Abideen, 42
46. Mustafa Abu Mar, 20
47. Khalid Abu Mar, 23
48. Mazen Farj al-Jarbah, 30
49. Marwan Slim, 27
50. Hani Saleh Hamad, 57, was killed in a bombing in Beit Hanoun along with his son Ibrahim.
51. Ibrahim Hamad, 20, was killed in the same bombing.
52. Salima Hassan Musallim al-Arja, 60, was killed in a bombing in Rafah that wounded five others.
53. Maryam Atieh Muhammad al-Arja, 11, was killed in the same bombing.
54. Hamad Shahab, 27
55. Ibrahim Khalil Qanun, 24, was killed in a bombing of Khan Younis.
56. Muhammad Khalil Qanun, 26, was killed in the same attack.
57. Hamdi Badieh Sawali, 33, was killed in the same attack.
58. Ahmad Sawali, 28, was killed in the same attack.
59. Suleiman al-Astal, 55
60. Muhammad al-Aqqad, 24
61. Ra'ed Shalat, 37, was killed in a bombing that wounded 6 others.
Thursday, July 10:
62. Asma Mahmoud al-Hajj was killed in a bombing in Khan Younis that killed eight members of the same family and wounded 16 other people.
63. Basmah Abdelfattah al-Hajj, 57, was wounded in the bombing and succumbed to her injuries shortly afterwards.
64. Mahmoud Lutfi al-Hajj, 58, died in the same bombing.
65. Tarek Sa'ad al-Hajj died in the same bombing.
66. Sa'ad Mahmoud al-Hajj died in the same bombing.
67. Najla Mahmoud al-Hajj died in the same bombing.
68. Fatima al-Hajj died in the same bombing.
69. Omar al-Hajj died in the same bombing.
70. Ahmad Salim al-Astal was killed in the bombing of a beach house in Khan Younis that critically wounded more than 15 people.
71. Mousa Mohammed was killed in the same bombing. The two bodies were recovered four hours after the bombing.
72. Ra'ed al-Zawareh, 33, succumbed to his wounds and died. The location of his death was unreported.
73. Baha' Abu al-Leel, 35
74. Salim Qandil, 27, was killed in a bombing.
75. Omar al-Fyumi, 30, was killed in the same bombing.
76. Abdullah Ramadan Abu Ghazzal, 5, was killed in a bombing in Beit Lahiya.
77. Ismail Hassan Abu Jamah, 19, was killed in a bombing of Khan Younis that injured two children, one critically.
78. Unknown
79. Mahmoud Wulud was killed in a bombing of a civilian vehicle in northern Gaza. His remains were taken to Kamal Adwan Hospital in Jabaliya.
80. Hazem Balousha was killed in the same bombing. His remains are at Kamal Adwan Hospital.
81. Alaa Abdelnabi was killed in the same bombing. His remains are at Kamal Adwan Hospital.
82. Ahmad Zaher Hamdan, 22, died of injuries sustained in northern Gaza.
83. Mohammed Kamal al-Kahlout
The Gaza health ministry has confirmed the deaths of 81 Palestinians so far in the besieged strip since Israel began its relentless assault early Tuesday. Among those killed, at least 20 were aged 16 or younger. The youngest victim, 18-month-old Mohammed Malakiyeh, was killed along with his 27-year-old mother. The oldest victim, 80-year-old Naifeh Farjallah, was killed in an air strike on the town of Moghraqa, southwest of Gaza City.
The two deadliest strikes killed eight people each: One strike Tuesday on the Hamad family home in southern Gaza, and another on Thursday on the Hajj family home in Khan Younis. Five children were among the dead in the latter bombing.
Victims’ names and ages were compiled based on information released by the Gaza health ministry, while the circumstances of the deaths were taken from the ministry and local news sources.
There have been no Israeli casualties since the beginning of the offensive.
Al-Akhbar will update the list as new information is released.
Tuesday, July 8:
1. Mohammed Sha’aban, 24, was killed in a bombing of his car in Gaza City.
2. Ahmad Sha’aban, 30, died in the same bombing.
3. Khadir al-Bashiliki, 45, died in the same bombing.
4. Rashad Yaseen, 27, was killed in a bombing of the Nusseirat refugee camp in central Gaza.
5. Riad Mohammed Kawareh, 50, was killed in a bombing of his family’s home in Khan Younis.
6. Seraj Ayad Abed al-A’al, 8, was wounded in the same bombing and succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday evening.
7. Mohammed Ayman Ashour, 15, died in the same bombing.
8. Bakr Mohammed Joudah, 22, died in the same bombing.
9. Ammar Mohammed Joudah, 26, died in the same bombing.
10. Hussein Yousef Kawareh, 13, died in the same bombing.
11. Mohammed Ibrahim Kawareh, 50, died in the same bombing.
12. Bassim Salim Kawareh, 10, died in the same bombing.
13. Mousa Habib, 16, from Gaza City’s al-Shujaiyah neighborhood, was killed along with his 22-year old cousin while the pair were riding a motorcycle.
14. Mohammed Habib, 22, was killed with Mousa Habib.
15. Sakr Aysh al-Ajouri, 22, was killed in an attack on Jabaliyah, in northern Gaza.
16. Ahmad Na’el Mehdi, 16, from Gaza City’s Sheikh Radwan neighborhood, was killed in a bombing that wounded two of his friends.
17. Hafiz Mohammed Hamad, 30, an Islamic Jihad commander, was killed in the bombing of his home in Beit Hanoun, along with five of his family members.
18. Ibrahim Mohammed Hamad, 26, died in the same bombing.
19. Mehdi Mohammed Hamad, 46, died in the same bombing.
20. Fawzia Khalil Hamad, 62, died in the same bombing.
21. Dunia Mehdi Hamad, 16, died in the same bombing.
22. Suha Hamad, 25, died in the same bombing.
23. Suleiman Salman Abu Soaween, 22
Wednesday, July 9:
24. Abdelhadi Jamaat al-Sufi, 24, was killed in a bombing near the Rafah crossing.
25. Naifeh Farjallah, 80, was killed in an airstrike on the town of Moghraqa, southwest of Gaza City.
26. Abdelnasser Abu Kweek, 60, was killed in the bombing of Gaza’s central governorate along with his son.
27. Khaled Abu Kweek, 31, Abdelnasser Abu Kweek’s son, was killed in the same bombing.
28. Amir Areef, 13, died in a bombing in Sha’af.
29. Mohammed Malkiyeh, one and a half years old, died in a bombing along with his mother and a young man.
30. Amniyeh Malkiyeh, 27, Mohammed Malkiyeh’s mother, died in the same bombing.
31. Hatem Abu Salem, 28, died in the same bombing.
32. Mohammed Khaled al-Nimri, 22
33. Sahar Hamdan, 40, died in the bombing of her home in Beit Hanoun.
34. Ibrahim Masri, 14, Sahar Hamdan’s son, was killed in the same bombing.
35. Sumoud al-Nawasra, a mother, was killed in a bombing along with her two children.
36. Mohammed Khalaf al-Nawasra, 4, arrived at the hospital “in shreds.”
37. Nidal Khalaf al-Nawasra, a child of unreported age, died along with Mohammed and Sumoud.
38. Salah Awwad al-Nawasra, was killed in the same bombing. His body was found under the rubble of the house.
39. Aisha Nijm
40. Amal Youssef Abdel Ghafour
41. Ranim Jawde Abdel Ghafour, a young girl
42. Rashid al-Kafarneh, 30, was killed when the motorcycle he was riding was bombed.
43. Ibrahim Daoud al-Balawi, 24
44. Abdelrahman Jamal al-Zamli, 22
45. Ibrahim Ahmad Abideen, 42
46. Mustafa Abu Mar, 20
47. Khalid Abu Mar, 23
48. Mazen Farj al-Jarbah, 30
49. Marwan Slim, 27
50. Hani Saleh Hamad, 57, was killed in a bombing in Beit Hanoun along with his son Ibrahim.
51. Ibrahim Hamad, 20, was killed in the same bombing.
52. Salima Hassan Musallim al-Arja, 60, was killed in a bombing in Rafah that wounded five others.
53. Maryam Atieh Muhammad al-Arja, 11, was killed in the same bombing.
54. Hamad Shahab, 27
55. Ibrahim Khalil Qanun, 24, was killed in a bombing of Khan Younis.
56. Muhammad Khalil Qanun, 26, was killed in the same attack.
57. Hamdi Badieh Sawali, 33, was killed in the same attack.
58. Ahmad Sawali, 28, was killed in the same attack.
59. Suleiman al-Astal, 55
60. Muhammad al-Aqqad, 24
61. Ra'ed Shalat, 37, was killed in a bombing that wounded 6 others.
Thursday, July 10:
62. Asma Mahmoud al-Hajj was killed in a bombing in Khan Younis that killed eight members of the same family and wounded 16 other people.
63. Basmah Abdelfattah al-Hajj, 57, was wounded in the bombing and succumbed to her injuries shortly afterwards.
64. Mahmoud Lutfi al-Hajj, 58, died in the same bombing.
65. Tarek Sa'ad al-Hajj died in the same bombing.
66. Sa'ad Mahmoud al-Hajj died in the same bombing.
67. Najla Mahmoud al-Hajj died in the same bombing.
68. Fatima al-Hajj died in the same bombing.
69. Omar al-Hajj died in the same bombing.
70. Ahmad Salim al-Astal was killed in the bombing of a beach house in Khan Younis that critically wounded more than 15 people.
71. Mousa Mohammed was killed in the same bombing. The two bodies were recovered four hours after the bombing.
72. Ra'ed al-Zawareh, 33, succumbed to his wounds and died. The location of his death was unreported.
73. Baha' Abu al-Leel, 35
74. Salim Qandil, 27, was killed in a bombing.
75. Omar al-Fyumi, 30, was killed in the same bombing.
76. Abdullah Ramadan Abu Ghazzal, 5, was killed in a bombing in Beit Lahiya.
77. Ismail Hassan Abu Jamah, 19, was killed in a bombing of Khan Younis that injured two children, one critically.
78. Unknown
79. Mahmoud Wulud was killed in a bombing of a civilian vehicle in northern Gaza. His remains were taken to Kamal Adwan Hospital in Jabaliya.
80. Hazem Balousha was killed in the same bombing. His remains are at Kamal Adwan Hospital.
81. Alaa Abdelnabi was killed in the same bombing. His remains are at Kamal Adwan Hospital.
82. Ahmad Zaher Hamdan, 22, died of injuries sustained in northern Gaza.
83. Mohammed Kamal al-Kahlout
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A Palestinian woman looks from a balcony at the wreckage of a car hit by an Israeli air strike, killing three people and wounding four others, early on July 10, 2014 in Gaza City
Israeli airstrikes across the besieged Gaza Strip killed 30 Palestinians overnight Wednesday and Thursday, including a family of eight, bringing the total death toll to 81. Israeli warplanes fired a missile at a car in the northern Gaza strip killing three Palestinians. |
A medical official confirmed that the remains of the victims were taken to Kamal Udwan Hospital.
Ismail Abu Jami, 19, was killed in a strike on Khan Younis and Abdullah Ramadan Abu Ghazal, five, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Beit Lahiya, Gaza health ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qidra said.
Israeli warplanes also targeted a residential house in al-Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, with no injuries reported.
In the southern Gaza Strip, an Israeli missile hit a residential building in Rafah. Three men were injured in a car traveling near the building.
Earlier, an airstrike hit a car in al-Nafaq street in Gaza City, killing three and injuring four.
Bahaa Abu al-Leil, 35, Wisam Qandil and Amir al-Fayoumi were identified as the victims. Islamic Jihad said in a statement that the men were fighters with the al-Quds Brigades.
Early Thursday, Israeli warplanes targeted a building in Khan Younis, killing eight members of the al-Hajj family. Over 30 people were injured in the strike.
Most of the victims were children, al-Qidra said, adding that Israeli forces bombed the building without a warning or asking them to evacuate.
Tariq al-Hajj, Najla al-Hajj, Aminah al-Hajj, Saad al-Hajj, Omar al-Hajj, Aminah al-Hajj, and Basimah al-Hajj, 57, were named as the victims.
Earlier, nine Palestinians were killed and at least 10 injured when Israel targeted Waqt al-Marah coffee shop on a Khan Younis beach.
Locals said dozens of people were watching the World Cup semi-final game when Israel fired a missile at the crowd.
Muhammad Khalid Qannan, his brother Ibrahim, Hamdi Kamil Sawali, Suleiman al-Astal, Ahmad al-Astal, Mousa al-Astal and Muhammad al-Aqqad were identified as some of the victims.
Muhammad Ihsan Farawneh, 18, was found dead on Thursday under the rubble of the cafe.
Another airstrike in the al-Zawayda village in central Gaza killed four members of the Shalat family; a couple and two children.
Late Wednesday, an Israeli airstrike killed Hamdi Shihab, who worked as a driver for local news agency Media 24.
The car had 'TV' clearly marked in red paint on the bonnet of the vehicle.
Early on Thursday the Israeli military said that during the course of the preceding day, "at least 82 rockets hit Israel" and 21 were intercepted.
The Israeli army said it launched raids on "322 targets" overnight, taking the total number of Hamas targets hit to 750.
The United Nations Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on the crisis from 10:00 a.m., with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon due to give the latest about the situation on the ground, followed by closed-door consultations between the Council's 15 member states.
The meeting follows a request by Arab envoys.
Ban called the new wave of violence "one of the most critical tests the region has faced in recent years".
"Gaza is on a knife edge. The deteriorating situation is leading to a downward spiral which could quickly get beyond anyone's control," he said.
"The risk of violence expanding further still is real. Gaza, and the region as a whole, cannot afford another full-blown war."
Ismail Abu Jami, 19, was killed in a strike on Khan Younis and Abdullah Ramadan Abu Ghazal, five, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Beit Lahiya, Gaza health ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qidra said.
Israeli warplanes also targeted a residential house in al-Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, with no injuries reported.
In the southern Gaza Strip, an Israeli missile hit a residential building in Rafah. Three men were injured in a car traveling near the building.
Earlier, an airstrike hit a car in al-Nafaq street in Gaza City, killing three and injuring four.
Bahaa Abu al-Leil, 35, Wisam Qandil and Amir al-Fayoumi were identified as the victims. Islamic Jihad said in a statement that the men were fighters with the al-Quds Brigades.
Early Thursday, Israeli warplanes targeted a building in Khan Younis, killing eight members of the al-Hajj family. Over 30 people were injured in the strike.
Most of the victims were children, al-Qidra said, adding that Israeli forces bombed the building without a warning or asking them to evacuate.
Tariq al-Hajj, Najla al-Hajj, Aminah al-Hajj, Saad al-Hajj, Omar al-Hajj, Aminah al-Hajj, and Basimah al-Hajj, 57, were named as the victims.
Earlier, nine Palestinians were killed and at least 10 injured when Israel targeted Waqt al-Marah coffee shop on a Khan Younis beach.
Locals said dozens of people were watching the World Cup semi-final game when Israel fired a missile at the crowd.
Muhammad Khalid Qannan, his brother Ibrahim, Hamdi Kamil Sawali, Suleiman al-Astal, Ahmad al-Astal, Mousa al-Astal and Muhammad al-Aqqad were identified as some of the victims.
Muhammad Ihsan Farawneh, 18, was found dead on Thursday under the rubble of the cafe.
Another airstrike in the al-Zawayda village in central Gaza killed four members of the Shalat family; a couple and two children.
Late Wednesday, an Israeli airstrike killed Hamdi Shihab, who worked as a driver for local news agency Media 24.
The car had 'TV' clearly marked in red paint on the bonnet of the vehicle.
Early on Thursday the Israeli military said that during the course of the preceding day, "at least 82 rockets hit Israel" and 21 were intercepted.
The Israeli army said it launched raids on "322 targets" overnight, taking the total number of Hamas targets hit to 750.
The United Nations Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on the crisis from 10:00 a.m., with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon due to give the latest about the situation on the ground, followed by closed-door consultations between the Council's 15 member states.
The meeting follows a request by Arab envoys.
Ban called the new wave of violence "one of the most critical tests the region has faced in recent years".
"Gaza is on a knife edge. The deteriorating situation is leading to a downward spiral which could quickly get beyond anyone's control," he said.
"The risk of violence expanding further still is real. Gaza, and the region as a whole, cannot afford another full-blown war."
Palestinian medical sources have reported that three Palestinians, including two children, have been killed in the latest wave of Israeli military escalation against the civilian population in the besieged coastal region. 77 Palestinians killed in ongoing offensive, and more than 541 injured.
Dr. Ashraf al-Qodra, spokesperson of the Ministry of Health in Gaza, stated that Israeli missiles struck homes in Jabalia refugee camp, in northern Gaza, killing one child, identified ad Ramadan Abu Ghazal, 5 years of age; his brother, and several other Palestinians, have been injured.
Al-Qodra added that resident Ismael Abu Jame’, 19, was also killed when Israeli war jets fired missiles into a home in Bani Soheila, in the southern Gaza Strip district of Khan Younis, and several Palestinians have been injured.
In addition, medics managed to locate the body of a Palestinian killed when the army fired a shell at Palestinians near the shore in Khan Younis.
The Palestinian has been identified as Mohammad Ehsan Ferwana, 19, his body was buried under the rubble and sand.
Soldiers also bombarded the home of Yahia Sinwar, a former political prisoner who was released under the Shalit prisoner swap agreement.
The army shelled a home belonging to Mahdi Kaware’, right next door to his relatives’ home that was bombarded on the first day of Israel’s aggression killing eight family members.
Three Palestinians have been wounded while driving their car close to a home as an Israeli missile struck it.
The Israeli army bombarded farmlands, and dozens of homes in central Gaza, Rafah, Khan Younis, Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahia, and different communities in the coastal region.
On Thursday at dawn, soldiers bombarded dozens of homes and property in different parts of the Gaza Strip, killing and injuring dozens of Palestinians, including children and elderly.
The Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA) said three Palestinians were killed, earlier, in the Nafaq Street north of Gaza city. They have been identified as SalemQandil, 27, Amer al-Fayyoumi, 30, and Baha’ Abu al-Leil, 35.
Dozens of homes have been hit by Israeli shells in different part of the coastal region.
In three days of war, the Israeli army dropped more than 800 tons of explosives in at least 750 separate attacks against the coastal enclave.
Dr. Ashraf al-Qodra, spokesperson of the Ministry of Health in Gaza, stated that Israeli missiles struck homes in Jabalia refugee camp, in northern Gaza, killing one child, identified ad Ramadan Abu Ghazal, 5 years of age; his brother, and several other Palestinians, have been injured.
Al-Qodra added that resident Ismael Abu Jame’, 19, was also killed when Israeli war jets fired missiles into a home in Bani Soheila, in the southern Gaza Strip district of Khan Younis, and several Palestinians have been injured.
In addition, medics managed to locate the body of a Palestinian killed when the army fired a shell at Palestinians near the shore in Khan Younis.
The Palestinian has been identified as Mohammad Ehsan Ferwana, 19, his body was buried under the rubble and sand.
Soldiers also bombarded the home of Yahia Sinwar, a former political prisoner who was released under the Shalit prisoner swap agreement.
The army shelled a home belonging to Mahdi Kaware’, right next door to his relatives’ home that was bombarded on the first day of Israel’s aggression killing eight family members.
Three Palestinians have been wounded while driving their car close to a home as an Israeli missile struck it.
The Israeli army bombarded farmlands, and dozens of homes in central Gaza, Rafah, Khan Younis, Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahia, and different communities in the coastal region.
On Thursday at dawn, soldiers bombarded dozens of homes and property in different parts of the Gaza Strip, killing and injuring dozens of Palestinians, including children and elderly.
The Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA) said three Palestinians were killed, earlier, in the Nafaq Street north of Gaza city. They have been identified as SalemQandil, 27, Amer al-Fayyoumi, 30, and Baha’ Abu al-Leil, 35.
Dozens of homes have been hit by Israeli shells in different part of the coastal region.
In three days of war, the Israeli army dropped more than 800 tons of explosives in at least 750 separate attacks against the coastal enclave.
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More than fifty Palestinians have been killed and another 450 wounded since Monday in Israel’s ongoing assault on the besieged Gaza Strip, dubbed “Operation Protective Edge” by the Israeli army.
As usual, mainstream media outlets are straining to paint Israel as the victim, defending its people against irrational Palestinian rocket fire. There is no equating the killing and maiming of dozens of innocent Palestinians with scared Israelis seeking shelter from crude rockets that rarely cause damage. But that hasn’t stopped media outlets from trying, and in some cases, outright lying, to distort the violence. |
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Screenshot of ABC News image mislabeled as “an Israeli family trying to salvage what they can.”
In one stark example, ABC News’ Diane Sawyer misidentifies scenes of the aftermath of Israeli missile strikes in Gaza as destruction caused by Palestinian rocket fire. As Sawyer segues into the segment, she says, “We take you overseas now to the rockets raining down on Israel today as Israel tried to shoot them out of the sky.” Next to her is video footage not of Israelis or even Israel, but of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza. |
Sawyer then incorrectly describes an image of a Palestinian family gathering belongings in the smoking debris of a missile-hit home in Gaza as “an Israeli family trying to salvage what they can.”
Sawyer then describes an image of a Palestinian woman surrounded by destroyed homes as “one woman standing speechless among the ruins,” with the implication that she is Israeli.
Sawyer’s bald misreporting reflects either a deliberate lie by ABC News or willful ignorance so severe that Palestinian death and misery is invisible even when it’s staring ABC producers right in the face.
The segment in its entirety can be seen here
Sawyer then describes an image of a Palestinian woman surrounded by destroyed homes as “one woman standing speechless among the ruins,” with the implication that she is Israeli.
Sawyer’s bald misreporting reflects either a deliberate lie by ABC News or willful ignorance so severe that Palestinian death and misery is invisible even when it’s staring ABC producers right in the face.
The segment in its entirety can be seen here
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Chairman of Hamas's political bureau Khaled Mishaal revealed that numerous calls and contacts were made with his Movement to reach a truce agreement and stop rocket fire. He declared his movement's total rejection to such demands as Israel was the one that started the aggression. In a speech in Doha on Wednesday evening, Mishaal stressed the Palestinians' right to defend themselves, as Israel was the one that started the aggression against them. “Whoever wants calm in return for calm isn’t going to get it. Today we are fighting a major battle against an enemy who bears full responsibility for the escalation”, he said.
“This war was imposed on us; however we have no other choice but to defend ourselves. We won during the past two wars because Allah was always with us, and we will carry out our duty in defending our land till the last moment even if we stand alone”, he continued.
He said that Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu thought that his crimes would pass without punishment.
Mishaal condemned the west and the international community's double standards policy.
“You have to change your leaders and force them to halt the aggression. Netanyahu is guiding you to defeat”, Mishaal said addressing the Israelis.
The senior Hamas leader called on Palestinian resistance factions in the West Bank and Gaza Strip to live up to the responsibility and unite their efforts till achieving victory.
He also called on the political factions and leaders to coordinate their efforts in face of Israeli aggression.
Mishaal urged the Palestinian Authority and its security forces to stand alongside their people.
He also called on the Arab and world leaders to bear their responsibilities
“This war was imposed on us; however we have no other choice but to defend ourselves. We won during the past two wars because Allah was always with us, and we will carry out our duty in defending our land till the last moment even if we stand alone”, he continued.
He said that Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu thought that his crimes would pass without punishment.
Mishaal condemned the west and the international community's double standards policy.
“You have to change your leaders and force them to halt the aggression. Netanyahu is guiding you to defeat”, Mishaal said addressing the Israelis.
The senior Hamas leader called on Palestinian resistance factions in the West Bank and Gaza Strip to live up to the responsibility and unite their efforts till achieving victory.
He also called on the political factions and leaders to coordinate their efforts in face of Israeli aggression.
Mishaal urged the Palestinian Authority and its security forces to stand alongside their people.
He also called on the Arab and world leaders to bear their responsibilities
Egyptian authorities opened the Rafah crossing with the Gaza Strip early Thursday to allow hundreds of Palestinians injured during the ongoing Israeli offensive to receive medical treatment.
A spokesman for the Palestinian Ministry of Interior in Gaza, Iyad al-Buzm, told Ma'an that the Egyptian side notified the ministry that the crossing would be open at 9 a.m. on Thursday for injured Palestinians and humanitarian cases.
Egypt's frequent closure of the Rafah crossing, the only border through which Palestinians can exit Gaza, has exacerbated an already dire humanitarian situation in the coastal enclave.
Egypt on Wednesday urged Israel and Hamas in Gaza to halt their escalating conflict but played down hopes of a Cairo-mediated truce.
During Israel's 2012 assault on Gaza, Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi condemned "Israeli aggression" and sent his prime minister to Gaza in a show of support for the Palestinians.
Since the military overthrew him in July 2013, Cairo has cracked down on smuggling tunnels to the Gaza Strip and accused Hamas of aiding the Brotherhood in militant attacks inside Egypt.
A spokesman for the Palestinian Ministry of Interior in Gaza, Iyad al-Buzm, told Ma'an that the Egyptian side notified the ministry that the crossing would be open at 9 a.m. on Thursday for injured Palestinians and humanitarian cases.
Egypt's frequent closure of the Rafah crossing, the only border through which Palestinians can exit Gaza, has exacerbated an already dire humanitarian situation in the coastal enclave.
Egypt on Wednesday urged Israel and Hamas in Gaza to halt their escalating conflict but played down hopes of a Cairo-mediated truce.
During Israel's 2012 assault on Gaza, Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi condemned "Israeli aggression" and sent his prime minister to Gaza in a show of support for the Palestinians.
Since the military overthrew him in July 2013, Cairo has cracked down on smuggling tunnels to the Gaza Strip and accused Hamas of aiding the Brotherhood in militant attacks inside Egypt.
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