5 may 2016
Israeli Army Coordinator of Government Activities in the Occupied Territories, Major Maj. -Gen. Yoav ‘Poli’ Mordechai, said the Israeli army will continue its activities in border areas in the Gaza Strip, and denied any knowledge of an agreement on the issue.
Mordechai stated the army intends to continue its operations “against Hamas,” adding that the Hamas movement is “digging tunnels in areas that are under full Israeli control.”
He also said that the military will act against the tunnels in the “Buffer Zone,” across the border fence, and that “such tunnels and activities by Hamas target Israel’s sovereignty, and pose a threat to its security.”
Meanwhile, member of the Political Bureau of Hamas, Mousa Abu Marzook, thanked the Qatari ambassador in Gaza in what he described as “his role in repelling the latest Israeli escalation against Rafah and Sheja’eyya.”
“The people of Gaza appreciate the role of Qatar, the Qatari ambassador, and his relentless efforts in preventing Israel from destroying what Qatar built in the Gaza Strip,” according to Abu Marzook.
On the ground, the Israeli army bombarded several areas in the besieged Gaza Strip, causing serious property damage, in addition to wounding an elderly man and three children.
The Israeli army also invaded, and bulldozed, Palestinian lands, after advancing approximately 150 meters, northeast of Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.
Mordechai stated the army intends to continue its operations “against Hamas,” adding that the Hamas movement is “digging tunnels in areas that are under full Israeli control.”
He also said that the military will act against the tunnels in the “Buffer Zone,” across the border fence, and that “such tunnels and activities by Hamas target Israel’s sovereignty, and pose a threat to its security.”
Meanwhile, member of the Political Bureau of Hamas, Mousa Abu Marzook, thanked the Qatari ambassador in Gaza in what he described as “his role in repelling the latest Israeli escalation against Rafah and Sheja’eyya.”
“The people of Gaza appreciate the role of Qatar, the Qatari ambassador, and his relentless efforts in preventing Israel from destroying what Qatar built in the Gaza Strip,” according to Abu Marzook.
On the ground, the Israeli army bombarded several areas in the besieged Gaza Strip, causing serious property damage, in addition to wounding an elderly man and three children.
The Israeli army also invaded, and bulldozed, Palestinian lands, after advancing approximately 150 meters, northeast of Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.
Aisha al-Amouri 55
A Palestinian elderly woman was killed and two young men were injured in Israeli artillery shelling east of Khan Younis city south of Gaza Strip, while Israeli warplanes continued to launch airstrikes on the southern border areas.
The PIC reporter quoted medical sources as saying that the 55-year-old Aisha al-Amouri succumbed to her wounds she sustained during Israeli violent artillery shelling on the al-Fakhari area east of Khan Younis city.
Al-Amouri was transferred to the European Hospital in Gaza in very critical condition, where she was proclaimed dead. Two other young men suffered moderate injuries during the shelling.
Tensions continued to escalate in the besieged Gaza Strip since Wednesday afternoon after Israeli forces carried out several airstrikes and incursions in total violation of the ceasefire agreement reached in August 2014.
A Palestinian elderly woman was killed and two young men were injured in Israeli artillery shelling east of Khan Younis city south of Gaza Strip, while Israeli warplanes continued to launch airstrikes on the southern border areas.
The PIC reporter quoted medical sources as saying that the 55-year-old Aisha al-Amouri succumbed to her wounds she sustained during Israeli violent artillery shelling on the al-Fakhari area east of Khan Younis city.
Al-Amouri was transferred to the European Hospital in Gaza in very critical condition, where she was proclaimed dead. Two other young men suffered moderate injuries during the shelling.
Tensions continued to escalate in the besieged Gaza Strip since Wednesday afternoon after Israeli forces carried out several airstrikes and incursions in total violation of the ceasefire agreement reached in August 2014.
Israeli warplanes launched Thursday evening four airstrikes on Rafah south of Gaza Strip, only few hours after Israeli military vehicles launched a fresh incursion into Gaza’s northern border areas.
According to the PIC reporter, Israeli F-16 jets targeted security sites used by Palestinian resistance west of Rafah.
A young man was injured earlier in the day when Israeli tanks, stationed along the border areas, shelled Khan Younis city south of the Strip.
The PIC reporter also affirmed that Israeli F-16 jets launched two airstrikes in the southern Gaza Strip, hitting an open land in the Abu al-Rus area in eastern Rafah. No injuries were initially reported.
Following the Israeli new escalation, Palestinian resistance responded by firing mortar shells at the Israeli military vehicles that crossed into Gaza territories since the early morning hours.
Israeli forces also shelled an observation post used by Saraya al-Quds Brigades, Jihad Movement’s armed wing, with no reported injuries. The IOF admitted that one of its military vehicles was targeted by five mortar shells, causing only material damage.
Along the same line, eight Israeli military vehicles including three bulldozers moved about 60 meters into Beit Hanoun town north of Gaza Strip, and carried out combing operations in the area.
Four Palestinians, including three children, were earlier injured when Israeli forces launched several airstrikes across the besieged strip of Gaza.
Tensions continued to escalate in the besieged Gaza Strip since Wednesday afternoon after Israeli forces launched several airstrikes and incursions in total violation of the ceasefire agreement reached in August 2014.
According to the PIC reporter, Israeli F-16 jets targeted security sites used by Palestinian resistance west of Rafah.
A young man was injured earlier in the day when Israeli tanks, stationed along the border areas, shelled Khan Younis city south of the Strip.
The PIC reporter also affirmed that Israeli F-16 jets launched two airstrikes in the southern Gaza Strip, hitting an open land in the Abu al-Rus area in eastern Rafah. No injuries were initially reported.
Following the Israeli new escalation, Palestinian resistance responded by firing mortar shells at the Israeli military vehicles that crossed into Gaza territories since the early morning hours.
Israeli forces also shelled an observation post used by Saraya al-Quds Brigades, Jihad Movement’s armed wing, with no reported injuries. The IOF admitted that one of its military vehicles was targeted by five mortar shells, causing only material damage.
Along the same line, eight Israeli military vehicles including three bulldozers moved about 60 meters into Beit Hanoun town north of Gaza Strip, and carried out combing operations in the area.
Four Palestinians, including three children, were earlier injured when Israeli forces launched several airstrikes across the besieged strip of Gaza.
Tensions continued to escalate in the besieged Gaza Strip since Wednesday afternoon after Israeli forces launched several airstrikes and incursions in total violation of the ceasefire agreement reached in August 2014.
By Noor Salha
Gaza It was a memorable and a tragic night at the same time. I wish I could forget those moments and everything that happened to us on that day.
But I can’t. I cannot forget that day because of the fearful, chaotic, destructive, and deadly atmosphere my family had experienced.
We had to leave our own house within a few minutes before it was completely destroyed. Those minutes were not enough even to think about anything other than survival.
I was shocked, at times motionless, sad, and weak. I put my scarf on my head and just left. I still remember the screams of my father at that moment. He was saying, “God save us! Most Benevolent is He in whom we trust,” and rushed out in extreme hurry, screaming and praying.
I was afraid of losing my family. I was asking God to die before experiencing the loss of my family. This was all I felt at that moment.
We got out of our own home, in which we were raised and had so much love and memories; the whole process took a few seconds. The scene outside was just horrible, frightening.
All people were outdoors, children were crying and older people were screaming, but they were subdued compared to the terrible sounds of F16s that invaded the skies. I felt like a two-year old child who knew nothing but following her mother. The scent of death was all over the place – destroyed buildings, dust and smoke .. I was powerless to do anything.
I felt dejected and hopeless. I was living an internal conflict over whom I was going to lose next. At first, we ran randomly without a sense of direction or destination. No path was safe. No home was secured, and streets were not visible as ruins were everywhere. Everything seemed like a possible target to the F16s.
It was as if life had no meaning anymore. The sounds of bombs dropping, smoke filling the air was a site that eventually grew familiar. The warplanes bombed a building in the next neighborhood. We were able to see the smoke and the black fume rose to the sky. We managed to reach a neighbor’s house.
People in Gaza remained kind and hospitable despite the terrible situation. We stayed with them for about five minutes before we heard a loud explosion. Missiles rammed into our home, destroying it completely, along with our memories.
Noor Salha is an English language student at Al-Aqsa University in Gaza. She contributed this article to PalestineChronicle.com.
Gaza It was a memorable and a tragic night at the same time. I wish I could forget those moments and everything that happened to us on that day.
But I can’t. I cannot forget that day because of the fearful, chaotic, destructive, and deadly atmosphere my family had experienced.
We had to leave our own house within a few minutes before it was completely destroyed. Those minutes were not enough even to think about anything other than survival.
I was shocked, at times motionless, sad, and weak. I put my scarf on my head and just left. I still remember the screams of my father at that moment. He was saying, “God save us! Most Benevolent is He in whom we trust,” and rushed out in extreme hurry, screaming and praying.
I was afraid of losing my family. I was asking God to die before experiencing the loss of my family. This was all I felt at that moment.
We got out of our own home, in which we were raised and had so much love and memories; the whole process took a few seconds. The scene outside was just horrible, frightening.
All people were outdoors, children were crying and older people were screaming, but they were subdued compared to the terrible sounds of F16s that invaded the skies. I felt like a two-year old child who knew nothing but following her mother. The scent of death was all over the place – destroyed buildings, dust and smoke .. I was powerless to do anything.
I felt dejected and hopeless. I was living an internal conflict over whom I was going to lose next. At first, we ran randomly without a sense of direction or destination. No path was safe. No home was secured, and streets were not visible as ruins were everywhere. Everything seemed like a possible target to the F16s.
It was as if life had no meaning anymore. The sounds of bombs dropping, smoke filling the air was a site that eventually grew familiar. The warplanes bombed a building in the next neighborhood. We were able to see the smoke and the black fume rose to the sky. We managed to reach a neighbor’s house.
People in Gaza remained kind and hospitable despite the terrible situation. We stayed with them for about five minutes before we heard a loud explosion. Missiles rammed into our home, destroying it completely, along with our memories.
Noor Salha is an English language student at Al-Aqsa University in Gaza. She contributed this article to PalestineChronicle.com.
The Islamic Jihad Movement has warned that the Palestinian resistance will not stand idly by watching Israel's escalation of its aggression against the Gaza Strip.
"The resistance is closely and carefully monitoring the development of events", spokesman for the Movement Dawoud Shihab stated on Wednesday.
Shihab, however, stressed that "the resistance is committed to defending and protecting the Palestinian people." "The resistance in Gaza will not allow the occupation to impose a new fait accompli through attacking the Strip, and the Palestinian people will not allow it to impose the policy of coexistence on Gaza," the spokesman said.
"The resistance is in a constant state of preparation for response to the occupation's crimes," he added. He pointed out that "Israel has tightened its blockade on Gaza and stopped the wheel of reconstruction that was moving very slowly because of its measures, while its persistent attacks have reached a serious level of escalation in Gaza, Jerusalem and the West Bank."
Since last Tuesday, tension has been mounting across the border fence, including an exchange of shells east of Gaza city and around Israel's Nahal Oz military base as well as in areas east of Rafah. The tension started after the Israeli army carried out several incursions into Gaza at the pretext of looking for tunnels.
"The resistance is closely and carefully monitoring the development of events", spokesman for the Movement Dawoud Shihab stated on Wednesday.
Shihab, however, stressed that "the resistance is committed to defending and protecting the Palestinian people." "The resistance in Gaza will not allow the occupation to impose a new fait accompli through attacking the Strip, and the Palestinian people will not allow it to impose the policy of coexistence on Gaza," the spokesman said.
"The resistance is in a constant state of preparation for response to the occupation's crimes," he added. He pointed out that "Israel has tightened its blockade on Gaza and stopped the wheel of reconstruction that was moving very slowly because of its measures, while its persistent attacks have reached a serious level of escalation in Gaza, Jerusalem and the West Bank."
Since last Tuesday, tension has been mounting across the border fence, including an exchange of shells east of Gaza city and around Israel's Nahal Oz military base as well as in areas east of Rafah. The tension started after the Israeli army carried out several incursions into Gaza at the pretext of looking for tunnels.
A Palestinian elderly man was injured at dawn Thursday as Israeli warplanes targeted a metal workshop in the Zeitoun neighborhood east of Gaza City.
Medical sources told the PIC reporter that Haj Hassan Hassanin, 65, was injured by shrapnel in his shoulder and arm during the airstrike.
The Israeli pre-dawn airstrikes came as part of the Israeli recent escalation on the eastern borders of Gaza and shortly after an Egyptian mediation to restore calm in the area.
Earlier on Wednesday, Israeli tanks, stationed along the Gaza border, shelled several areas in Gaza’s eastern Shuja'iyya district, targeting security posts and watchtowers used by Hamas’s armed wing.
Israeli warplanes bombed at least five positions around Gaza's derelict international airport near the southern city of Rafah and in nearby open areas on Wednesday evening. Following the Israeli attack, member of Hamas’s political bureau Mousa Abu Marzouk declared in his Facebook official page that Egyptian authorities intervened to restore calm on the border areas.
"We made contacts with our brothers in Egypt, a key mediator in Israeli 2014 aggression on Gaza, to intervene to stop the Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement", he said, hailing the Egyptian “urgent and serious intervention.”
For its part, al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas Movement, issued a statement following the Israeli incursion into Gaza’s eastern borders. “We will not allow a continuation of Zionist aggression against the Gaza Strip.
The enemy should not invoke any reason whatsoever for its actions and leave the Gaza Strip immediately,” the statement said. Hamas Movement also held the Israeli occupation fully responsible for the escalation east of Gaza Strip and its consequences.
“The Movement calls on the concerned parties to shoulder their responsibility to stop this aggression and the Israeli crimes,” the statement added. The Israeli crimes will not succeed in breaking the Palestinian will and determination, the Movement emphasized.
Medical sources told the PIC reporter that Haj Hassan Hassanin, 65, was injured by shrapnel in his shoulder and arm during the airstrike.
The Israeli pre-dawn airstrikes came as part of the Israeli recent escalation on the eastern borders of Gaza and shortly after an Egyptian mediation to restore calm in the area.
Earlier on Wednesday, Israeli tanks, stationed along the Gaza border, shelled several areas in Gaza’s eastern Shuja'iyya district, targeting security posts and watchtowers used by Hamas’s armed wing.
Israeli warplanes bombed at least five positions around Gaza's derelict international airport near the southern city of Rafah and in nearby open areas on Wednesday evening. Following the Israeli attack, member of Hamas’s political bureau Mousa Abu Marzouk declared in his Facebook official page that Egyptian authorities intervened to restore calm on the border areas.
"We made contacts with our brothers in Egypt, a key mediator in Israeli 2014 aggression on Gaza, to intervene to stop the Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement", he said, hailing the Egyptian “urgent and serious intervention.”
For its part, al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas Movement, issued a statement following the Israeli incursion into Gaza’s eastern borders. “We will not allow a continuation of Zionist aggression against the Gaza Strip.
The enemy should not invoke any reason whatsoever for its actions and leave the Gaza Strip immediately,” the statement said. Hamas Movement also held the Israeli occupation fully responsible for the escalation east of Gaza Strip and its consequences.
“The Movement calls on the concerned parties to shoulder their responsibility to stop this aggression and the Israeli crimes,” the statement added. The Israeli crimes will not succeed in breaking the Palestinian will and determination, the Movement emphasized.
Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, has warned the Israeli occupation army that it would not allow it to persist in its current military incursions inside the Gaza Strip.
"The enemy should not give pretexts of any kind [to justify its actions], and should leave the Gaza Strip immediately," the Brigades stated in a communique on Wednesday.
"The enemy should address its fears outside our borders," it added "The Israeli incursions since Tuesday morning are considered a clear violation of the 2014 truce agreement and a new act of aggression against the Gaza Strip," its communique emphasized.
On Wednesday morning, the Israeli army carried out aerial and artillery attacks on Palestinian targets inside Gaza border areas and clashed with the resistance, which responded by firing mortar shells.
One day earlier, Israeli engineering units stormed different border areas of Gaza in the east and south, and have embarked since then on destroying and carrying out diggings on cultivated plots of lands.
"The enemy should not give pretexts of any kind [to justify its actions], and should leave the Gaza Strip immediately," the Brigades stated in a communique on Wednesday.
"The enemy should address its fears outside our borders," it added "The Israeli incursions since Tuesday morning are considered a clear violation of the 2014 truce agreement and a new act of aggression against the Gaza Strip," its communique emphasized.
On Wednesday morning, the Israeli army carried out aerial and artillery attacks on Palestinian targets inside Gaza border areas and clashed with the resistance, which responded by firing mortar shells.
One day earlier, Israeli engineering units stormed different border areas of Gaza in the east and south, and have embarked since then on destroying and carrying out diggings on cultivated plots of lands.
Various military analysts of the Israeli TV said, on Wednesday at night, that the current deterioration, and escalation, on the Gaza border is serious, but will unlikely lead to a full-blown war, and added that both Israel and Hamas are not interested in a new war.
They stated that what happened is an attempt by Hamas to prevent the Israeli army from uncovering, and destroying tunnels, in the border area.
A military analyst with Israel’s Channel 2 said the current tension could last for three days, the time period the army requires to search for tunnels.
In addition, an Israeli military spokesperson said the shelling on Gaza was conducted by unmanned drones, and targeted Hamas sites, in the southern part of the coastal region.
He added that Israel views Hamas’ underground activities (tunnels), as a breach of the ceasefire agreement, and considers Hamas a “terrorist organization, responsible for terrorist attacks.”
The spokesperson added that “Israel will continue to retaliate, with the needed force, until destroying all tunnels,” and stated that “calm, and avoiding escalation, is a joint interest for both Tel Aviv and Hamas.”
They stated that what happened is an attempt by Hamas to prevent the Israeli army from uncovering, and destroying tunnels, in the border area.
A military analyst with Israel’s Channel 2 said the current tension could last for three days, the time period the army requires to search for tunnels.
In addition, an Israeli military spokesperson said the shelling on Gaza was conducted by unmanned drones, and targeted Hamas sites, in the southern part of the coastal region.
He added that Israel views Hamas’ underground activities (tunnels), as a breach of the ceasefire agreement, and considers Hamas a “terrorist organization, responsible for terrorist attacks.”
The spokesperson added that “Israel will continue to retaliate, with the needed force, until destroying all tunnels,” and stated that “calm, and avoiding escalation, is a joint interest for both Tel Aviv and Hamas.”
Various Palestinian factions, including Hamas and Fateh movements, have warned that the latest Israeli military escalation on Gaza, including the Wednesday bombardment of border areas in the southern part of the coastal region, could lead the area into a new full-fledged military escalation and war. Yet, while calling of de-escalation, Palestinian factions in Gaza say they will retaliate to further violations.
The factions, along with many political and military analysts, said the bombarded that targeted sites run by the armed resistance groups in Gaza, is a direct Israeli initiation of war, and a large military escalation.
They added that the current attempts to inflame the Gaza front comes while Israel continues and escalates its crimes against the Palestinians in the West Bank, including the field executions, and called on the International Community, especially the Egyptian mediator, to act now before the current escalation and violations turn into a war.
The Al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas said that the Israeli army bombarded one of its centers, east of the Sheja’eyya neighborhood, in Gaza, and another site east of Rafah, in the southern part of the coastal region, shortly after the army said an explosive charge detonated near a military vehicle, operating across the border fence.
Tension was also mounting across the border fence, including exchange of shells east of Gaza city, and around the Nahal Oz Israeli military base, in addition to areas east of Rafah.
The Israeli shells targeted two military towers, run by al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas and al-Quds Brigades of the Islamic Jihad, both east of the Sheja’eyya neighborhood, causing damage but no injuries. The shelling was seen as an attempt to drag both movements into a full military confrontation.
The army also fired shells targeting a military post of the Gaza’s Field Security Force, run by the Interior Ministry, and a monitoring post run by al-Qassam, east of Rafah.
Later in the day, the army fired three shells into the Power Authority Building, east of Gaza city, causing excessive property damage.
The Al-Qassam Brigades issued a press release stating that “since Tuesday morning, May 03 2015, Israeli Engineering Corps advanced first 150-200 meters east of Rafah, and 300 meters into its northern and southern parts, and also advanced 200 meters east of Gaza city, before bulldozing and uprooting Palestinian lands – and they are still doing that.”
“We hereby want to make it clear that this is a direct violation of the ceasefire agreement of 2014; we will not allow this to continue,” Al-Qassam added, “The enemy must not make excuses and justifications, and must stop instantly – it needs to deal with its fears and insecurities somewhere else.”
The Israeli army said its fired the shells after military vehicles, operating across the border fence, east of Gaza city and in the southern part of the coastal region, were targeted with shells.
Khaled al-Batsh, a senior political leader of the Islamic Jihad in Gaza, told the Maan News Agency that the recent Israeli military escalation aims at creating “new engagement rules” that violate the Egyptian-mediated ceasefire.
The official added that the resistance in Gaza will not allow Israel to present its daily invasions into border areas as a “new normal,” especially since these invasions and violations, including the attacks against Gaza fishers, are direct and serious violates of all ceasefire agreements.
He also said that the factions in Gaza are calling on Egypt to act immediately, before this tension turns into a new war.
Fayez Abu Aita, spokesperson of Fateh movement, said the Israeli escalation against Gaza is not a coincidence, as it comes parallel to the escalation, killings, daily invasions and abductions in the occupied West Bank.
“Israel is not interested in a peaceful solution; not interested in implementing what it agreed upon in all signed peace agreements,” Abu Aita said, “Whenever international countries try to pressure Tel Aviv into halting its violations, and resuming direct talks, it instantly resorts to military escalation.”
He warned that such an escalation on Gaza will lead to the death of innocent civilians, especially children, similar to what Israel did in its aggression of 2014, and demanded the International Community to act now, and provide the urgently needed protection to the Palestinian people, mainly in the impoverished, war-torn and besieged coastal region.
Member of the Political Bureau of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), Talal Abu Thareefa, said the current situation in Gaza, the siege, poverty and constant Israeli violations, in addition to the Israeli restrictions that are seriously slowing down the reconstruction of dozens of thousands of homes and buildings, bombarded by Israel in the aggression of 2014, and the high living coats amidst seriously high levels of unemployment, will just lead to more tension.
“Several armed resistance groups in Gaza have repeatedly said they are not interested in any military escalation and direct confrontation with Israel, and we don’t believe a war will take place soon,” Abu Thareefa said, “But armed factions in Gaza are sending messages to Israel, and the International Community, that they cannot remain idle while the army continues to invade, and continues its violations and escalation.”
He also said that the armed resistance groups, and all political factions, are calling for a speedy intervention, first by Arab countries and second by regional and international countries, to act fast and lift the siege on Gaza, and to speed the reconstruction in addition to obliging Israel to stop its daily violations, including the daily targeting of fishers in Palestinian territorial waters, and the targeting of farmers and workers in Palestinian lands, close to the border fence.
“We all know that such daily violations, constant attacks and escalation will just lead to a full explosion of this already fragile situation,” Abu Thareefa added, “Israel’s threats and military escalation are very serious, and they require all of us to end these internal divisions, achieve comprehensive unity, and come up with a unified national strategy.”
On his part, Mosheer al-Masri, a senior political leader of Hamas, warned that the current Israeli escalation is “testing the patience and readiness of armed factions in Gaza,” and added that this escalation is a very serious violation of the ceasefire agreement.
Mousa Abu Marzouq, also a senior political leader of Hamas, said that what is happening in Gaza’s eastern border is an Israeli attempt to force new facts on the ground, as the army wants to prevent the Palestinians from entering their lands near, and create this new buffer zone of 150 meters.
“This is why our courageous resistance fighters targeted the military vehicles and bulldozers, earlier today,” Abu Marzouq said, “Various factions then contacted Egypt, the ceasefire mediator and facilitator, to prevent further escalation and direct confrontation.”
Palestinian Political Analyst Mustafa Sawwaf told Maan that the resistance is still practicing a great deal of self-restraint, despite the repeated invasions and violations, but added “this does not mean that they will just accept the situation as it is.”
“This self-restraint will end if the Israeli violations continue” Sawwaf said, “Israel is trying to drag the resistance into a new war to appease its public, and to show them that the army has arms that can extend, and strike deep, in Gaza.”
Deputy head of the Political Bureau of Hamas Ismael Haniyya also warned that the continuation of the siege on Gaza, and the repeated invasions and violations, will just lead to further tension and escalation.
“Do not misread our patience in Gaza, we cannot accept that two million Palestinians remain under this deadly siege, under this intolerable suffering in this big prison,” Haniyya told thousands of Palestinians during a massive Hamas rally in Gaza, Wednesday.
In the 51-day Israeli aggression and onslaught on Gaza in the summer of 2014, the Israeli army killed more than 2200 Palestinians, and wounded more than 11000, mainly civilians, including entire families, children, infants and elderly, in addition to destroying dozens of thousands of homes, buildings, and destruction of infrastructure in the Gaza region.
The factions, along with many political and military analysts, said the bombarded that targeted sites run by the armed resistance groups in Gaza, is a direct Israeli initiation of war, and a large military escalation.
They added that the current attempts to inflame the Gaza front comes while Israel continues and escalates its crimes against the Palestinians in the West Bank, including the field executions, and called on the International Community, especially the Egyptian mediator, to act now before the current escalation and violations turn into a war.
The Al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas said that the Israeli army bombarded one of its centers, east of the Sheja’eyya neighborhood, in Gaza, and another site east of Rafah, in the southern part of the coastal region, shortly after the army said an explosive charge detonated near a military vehicle, operating across the border fence.
Tension was also mounting across the border fence, including exchange of shells east of Gaza city, and around the Nahal Oz Israeli military base, in addition to areas east of Rafah.
The Israeli shells targeted two military towers, run by al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas and al-Quds Brigades of the Islamic Jihad, both east of the Sheja’eyya neighborhood, causing damage but no injuries. The shelling was seen as an attempt to drag both movements into a full military confrontation.
The army also fired shells targeting a military post of the Gaza’s Field Security Force, run by the Interior Ministry, and a monitoring post run by al-Qassam, east of Rafah.
Later in the day, the army fired three shells into the Power Authority Building, east of Gaza city, causing excessive property damage.
The Al-Qassam Brigades issued a press release stating that “since Tuesday morning, May 03 2015, Israeli Engineering Corps advanced first 150-200 meters east of Rafah, and 300 meters into its northern and southern parts, and also advanced 200 meters east of Gaza city, before bulldozing and uprooting Palestinian lands – and they are still doing that.”
“We hereby want to make it clear that this is a direct violation of the ceasefire agreement of 2014; we will not allow this to continue,” Al-Qassam added, “The enemy must not make excuses and justifications, and must stop instantly – it needs to deal with its fears and insecurities somewhere else.”
The Israeli army said its fired the shells after military vehicles, operating across the border fence, east of Gaza city and in the southern part of the coastal region, were targeted with shells.
Khaled al-Batsh, a senior political leader of the Islamic Jihad in Gaza, told the Maan News Agency that the recent Israeli military escalation aims at creating “new engagement rules” that violate the Egyptian-mediated ceasefire.
The official added that the resistance in Gaza will not allow Israel to present its daily invasions into border areas as a “new normal,” especially since these invasions and violations, including the attacks against Gaza fishers, are direct and serious violates of all ceasefire agreements.
He also said that the factions in Gaza are calling on Egypt to act immediately, before this tension turns into a new war.
Fayez Abu Aita, spokesperson of Fateh movement, said the Israeli escalation against Gaza is not a coincidence, as it comes parallel to the escalation, killings, daily invasions and abductions in the occupied West Bank.
“Israel is not interested in a peaceful solution; not interested in implementing what it agreed upon in all signed peace agreements,” Abu Aita said, “Whenever international countries try to pressure Tel Aviv into halting its violations, and resuming direct talks, it instantly resorts to military escalation.”
He warned that such an escalation on Gaza will lead to the death of innocent civilians, especially children, similar to what Israel did in its aggression of 2014, and demanded the International Community to act now, and provide the urgently needed protection to the Palestinian people, mainly in the impoverished, war-torn and besieged coastal region.
Member of the Political Bureau of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), Talal Abu Thareefa, said the current situation in Gaza, the siege, poverty and constant Israeli violations, in addition to the Israeli restrictions that are seriously slowing down the reconstruction of dozens of thousands of homes and buildings, bombarded by Israel in the aggression of 2014, and the high living coats amidst seriously high levels of unemployment, will just lead to more tension.
“Several armed resistance groups in Gaza have repeatedly said they are not interested in any military escalation and direct confrontation with Israel, and we don’t believe a war will take place soon,” Abu Thareefa said, “But armed factions in Gaza are sending messages to Israel, and the International Community, that they cannot remain idle while the army continues to invade, and continues its violations and escalation.”
He also said that the armed resistance groups, and all political factions, are calling for a speedy intervention, first by Arab countries and second by regional and international countries, to act fast and lift the siege on Gaza, and to speed the reconstruction in addition to obliging Israel to stop its daily violations, including the daily targeting of fishers in Palestinian territorial waters, and the targeting of farmers and workers in Palestinian lands, close to the border fence.
“We all know that such daily violations, constant attacks and escalation will just lead to a full explosion of this already fragile situation,” Abu Thareefa added, “Israel’s threats and military escalation are very serious, and they require all of us to end these internal divisions, achieve comprehensive unity, and come up with a unified national strategy.”
On his part, Mosheer al-Masri, a senior political leader of Hamas, warned that the current Israeli escalation is “testing the patience and readiness of armed factions in Gaza,” and added that this escalation is a very serious violation of the ceasefire agreement.
Mousa Abu Marzouq, also a senior political leader of Hamas, said that what is happening in Gaza’s eastern border is an Israeli attempt to force new facts on the ground, as the army wants to prevent the Palestinians from entering their lands near, and create this new buffer zone of 150 meters.
“This is why our courageous resistance fighters targeted the military vehicles and bulldozers, earlier today,” Abu Marzouq said, “Various factions then contacted Egypt, the ceasefire mediator and facilitator, to prevent further escalation and direct confrontation.”
Palestinian Political Analyst Mustafa Sawwaf told Maan that the resistance is still practicing a great deal of self-restraint, despite the repeated invasions and violations, but added “this does not mean that they will just accept the situation as it is.”
“This self-restraint will end if the Israeli violations continue” Sawwaf said, “Israel is trying to drag the resistance into a new war to appease its public, and to show them that the army has arms that can extend, and strike deep, in Gaza.”
Deputy head of the Political Bureau of Hamas Ismael Haniyya also warned that the continuation of the siege on Gaza, and the repeated invasions and violations, will just lead to further tension and escalation.
“Do not misread our patience in Gaza, we cannot accept that two million Palestinians remain under this deadly siege, under this intolerable suffering in this big prison,” Haniyya told thousands of Palestinians during a massive Hamas rally in Gaza, Wednesday.
In the 51-day Israeli aggression and onslaught on Gaza in the summer of 2014, the Israeli army killed more than 2200 Palestinians, and wounded more than 11000, mainly civilians, including entire families, children, infants and elderly, in addition to destroying dozens of thousands of homes, buildings, and destruction of infrastructure in the Gaza region.
4 may 2016
Hamas Movement held the Israeli occupation fully responsible for the escalation east of Gaza Strip and its consequences, spokesman for the Movement Sami Abu Zuhri said in a statement issued Wednesday evening.
The statement was issued after Israeli forces launched airstrikes and fired artillery shells on the borders of Gaza at least twice since Wednesday morning hours.
“The Movement calls on the concerned parties to shoulder their responsibility to stop this aggression and the Israeli crimes,” the statement added.
The Israeli crimes will not succeed in breaking the Palestinian will and determination, the Movement emphasized.
Earlier Wednesday, Israeli forces shelled a number of watchtowers used by Hamas’s armed wing, al-Qassam Brigades, in Shujayya neighborhood of Gaza City in the eastern Gaza Strip.
In response to the Israeli shelling, Palestinian resistance fired a mortar shell at an Israeli bulldozer while leveling land in eastern Gaza.
The statement was issued after Israeli forces launched airstrikes and fired artillery shells on the borders of Gaza at least twice since Wednesday morning hours.
“The Movement calls on the concerned parties to shoulder their responsibility to stop this aggression and the Israeli crimes,” the statement added.
The Israeli crimes will not succeed in breaking the Palestinian will and determination, the Movement emphasized.
Earlier Wednesday, Israeli forces shelled a number of watchtowers used by Hamas’s armed wing, al-Qassam Brigades, in Shujayya neighborhood of Gaza City in the eastern Gaza Strip.
In response to the Israeli shelling, Palestinian resistance fired a mortar shell at an Israeli bulldozer while leveling land in eastern Gaza.
Israeli artillery and jets targeted Wednesday evening different areas along the borders of Gaza Strip, mainly in Rafah and Gaza cities.
Local sources said that Israeli jets launched several airstrikes on an open area near the Rafah closed airport, causing material damage. No casualties were initially reported.
Two Israeli artillery shells were also fired at Shujayya and al-Tufah neighborhoods east of Gaza city with no reported injuries. Israeli artillery also shelled a reported military training site for the Palestinian resistance to the east of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, witnesses said.
More Israeli shells also fell on a residential building near the border fence. Israeli military officials claimed that “the airstrikes were in retaliation for five mortar rounds fired at Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip since Tuesday.”
The Palestinian Health Ministry affirmed that no injuries were reported during the Israeli attacks on Gaza. Hamas Movement issued a statement following the airstrikes, holding the Israeli occupation fully responsible for the recent escalation and its serious implications.
Local sources said that Israeli jets launched several airstrikes on an open area near the Rafah closed airport, causing material damage. No casualties were initially reported.
Two Israeli artillery shells were also fired at Shujayya and al-Tufah neighborhoods east of Gaza city with no reported injuries. Israeli artillery also shelled a reported military training site for the Palestinian resistance to the east of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, witnesses said.
More Israeli shells also fell on a residential building near the border fence. Israeli military officials claimed that “the airstrikes were in retaliation for five mortar rounds fired at Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip since Tuesday.”
The Palestinian Health Ministry affirmed that no injuries were reported during the Israeli attacks on Gaza. Hamas Movement issued a statement following the airstrikes, holding the Israeli occupation fully responsible for the recent escalation and its serious implications.
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) shelled Wednesday afternoon a number of watchtowers used by Hamas’s armed wing, al-Qassam Brigades, in Shujayya neighborhood of Gaza City in the eastern Gaza Strip.
Local sources affirmed to the PIC reporter that two watchtowers were shelled since the morning hours in Shujayya neighborhood on the eastern borders of Gaza Strip.
In response to the Israeli shelling, the armed wing fired a mortar shell at an Israeli bulldozer while carrying out combing operations in the area.
Israeli media sources claimed that two Israeli patrols were targeted in two separate shelling since the early morning hours with no reported injuries. The Israeli army declared a state of high alert on the border of Gaza following Wednesday’s escalation.
The Hebrew newspaper Maariv said that Israelis living in settlements in the vicinity of the Gaza Strip were told to stay indoors for fear of possible escalation.
Local sources affirmed to the PIC reporter that two watchtowers were shelled since the morning hours in Shujayya neighborhood on the eastern borders of Gaza Strip.
In response to the Israeli shelling, the armed wing fired a mortar shell at an Israeli bulldozer while carrying out combing operations in the area.
Israeli media sources claimed that two Israeli patrols were targeted in two separate shelling since the early morning hours with no reported injuries. The Israeli army declared a state of high alert on the border of Gaza following Wednesday’s escalation.
The Hebrew newspaper Maariv said that Israelis living in settlements in the vicinity of the Gaza Strip were told to stay indoors for fear of possible escalation.
An armed Palestinian resistance group fired, Wednesday, a mortar shell on Israeli military vehicles, operating near the border fence, east of Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. The army also fired two shells targeting Hamas fighters.
Israeli sources claimed the army responded to a mortar shell targeting army vehicles operating close to the border fence, and that the soldiers fired several shells at the source of fire.
The Al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas said the army fired two shells on one of its field units, and a monitoring tower, used by the fighters close to the border, east of Rafah, leading to property damage.
Also on Wednesday, the Israeli Radio said an explosive charge detonated near the border fence, causing no damage or injuries.
Earlier on Wednesday, several armored Israeli army vehicles and bulldozers invaded a border area, east of Rafah, before army diggers started looking for tunnels.
Israeli sources claimed the army responded to a mortar shell targeting army vehicles operating close to the border fence, and that the soldiers fired several shells at the source of fire.
The Al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas said the army fired two shells on one of its field units, and a monitoring tower, used by the fighters close to the border, east of Rafah, leading to property damage.
Also on Wednesday, the Israeli Radio said an explosive charge detonated near the border fence, causing no damage or injuries.
Earlier on Wednesday, several armored Israeli army vehicles and bulldozers invaded a border area, east of Rafah, before army diggers started looking for tunnels.
An Israeli force came under fire Tuesday evening near Nahal Oz settlement east of Gaza causing damage to engineering equipment. The Israeli force replied by intensive shooting towards the Strip.
No casualties were reported in both sides.
According to the Israeli 0404 website, the shooting followed the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s tour along with the army minister Moshe Ya'alon, Chief of the army's General Staff Gadi Eizenkot, and Commander of the southern region Eyal Zamir in settlements near the Gaza Strip.
During the tour, Netanyahu checked the tunnel of al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas Movement, which was discovered recently by the Israeli army east of Rafah city.
No casualties were reported in both sides.
According to the Israeli 0404 website, the shooting followed the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s tour along with the army minister Moshe Ya'alon, Chief of the army's General Staff Gadi Eizenkot, and Commander of the southern region Eyal Zamir in settlements near the Gaza Strip.
During the tour, Netanyahu checked the tunnel of al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas Movement, which was discovered recently by the Israeli army east of Rafah city.
2 may 2016
Several Israeli military vehicles and bulldozers leveled lands inside the southern Gaza Strip Monday morning, as Israeli forces also opened fire on Palestinian fisherman in the northern Gaza Strip.
Witnesses told Ma’an that four armored military bulldozers and three digging machines escorted by Israeli military vehicles stormed the Gaza Strip buffer zone east of Rafah.
The convoy entered through a gate in the security fence near the Sufa military base, and pulled back outside of Gaza territory shortly after the bulldozers leveled land, witnesses said.
In a separate incident, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Gaza fishermen off the coast of Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip. No casualties were reported.
An Israeli army spokesperson said they were looking into reports.
Israeli military incursions inside the besieged Gaza Strip and near the “buffer zone" which lies on both land and sea sides of Gaza, have long been a near-daily occurrence.
Palestinians who work near the “buffer zone” between the Palestinian enclave and Israel often come under fire from military forces, as the Israeli military has not made clear the precise area of the designated zone.
The Israeli army regularly open fires on Palestinian fisherman and farmers along the border areas, despite a ceasefire agreement that ended the 2014 war.
Witnesses told Ma’an that four armored military bulldozers and three digging machines escorted by Israeli military vehicles stormed the Gaza Strip buffer zone east of Rafah.
The convoy entered through a gate in the security fence near the Sufa military base, and pulled back outside of Gaza territory shortly after the bulldozers leveled land, witnesses said.
In a separate incident, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Gaza fishermen off the coast of Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip. No casualties were reported.
An Israeli army spokesperson said they were looking into reports.
Israeli military incursions inside the besieged Gaza Strip and near the “buffer zone" which lies on both land and sea sides of Gaza, have long been a near-daily occurrence.
Palestinians who work near the “buffer zone” between the Palestinian enclave and Israel often come under fire from military forces, as the Israeli military has not made clear the precise area of the designated zone.
The Israeli army regularly open fires on Palestinian fisherman and farmers along the border areas, despite a ceasefire agreement that ended the 2014 war.
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on early Monday morning moved into the southern and northern corners of the blockaded Gaza Strip and leveled Palestinian lands.
Four Israeli army bulldozers moved 100 meters into southern Gaza and razed Palestinians’ cultivated lands before they set up sand barriers.
A similar incursion was carried out shortly after into the borders of Beit Hanun town, in northern Gaza Strip. The IOF leveled Palestinian lands near the border fence and pitched another series of sand barriers.
The incursion is another chain in the series of Israeli violations of the Cairo-brokered ceasefire deal struck in the wake of the 2014 Israeli offensive on the besieged coastal enclave.
Four Israeli army bulldozers moved 100 meters into southern Gaza and razed Palestinians’ cultivated lands before they set up sand barriers.
A similar incursion was carried out shortly after into the borders of Beit Hanun town, in northern Gaza Strip. The IOF leveled Palestinian lands near the border fence and pitched another series of sand barriers.
The incursion is another chain in the series of Israeli violations of the Cairo-brokered ceasefire deal struck in the wake of the 2014 Israeli offensive on the besieged coastal enclave.
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