30 may 2018
A ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel appears to be holding following one of the worst days in violence in the Gaza Strip since the 2014 Gaza war.
Political bureau member of Hamas Khalil al-Hayya said on Wednesday that armed groups in the Gaza Strip had agreed to a deal with Israel following a night of air attacks targeting several Hamas and Islamic Jihad positions in the coastal enclave.
Al-Hayya said the group was committed to a truce as long as Israel was.
"A number of mediators intervened in the past hours, and an agreement was reached to return to a ceasefire in Gaza", Hayya said in a statement.
The Israeli army said it struck 60 targets belonging to Palestinian resistance groups in response to alleged "barrage of projectiles" fired from Gaza into southern Israel on Tuesday.
The firing of rockets and mortar rounds came as Islamic Jihad vowed to avenge a deadly attack against its members last week.
Since March 30, at least 121 unarmed Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in protests near the Israeli apartheid fence separating Gaza and territories occupied in 1948. Palestinians are demanding their right to return to the homes and land their families were expelled from during the establishment of the Israeli entity in 1948.
Gaza - a territory of more than two million people - has been under a devastating Israeli-imposed blockade for the past 12 years, which has severely restricted the movement of Palestinians in and out of the territory.
Political bureau member of Hamas Khalil al-Hayya said on Wednesday that armed groups in the Gaza Strip had agreed to a deal with Israel following a night of air attacks targeting several Hamas and Islamic Jihad positions in the coastal enclave.
Al-Hayya said the group was committed to a truce as long as Israel was.
"A number of mediators intervened in the past hours, and an agreement was reached to return to a ceasefire in Gaza", Hayya said in a statement.
The Israeli army said it struck 60 targets belonging to Palestinian resistance groups in response to alleged "barrage of projectiles" fired from Gaza into southern Israel on Tuesday.
The firing of rockets and mortar rounds came as Islamic Jihad vowed to avenge a deadly attack against its members last week.
Since March 30, at least 121 unarmed Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in protests near the Israeli apartheid fence separating Gaza and territories occupied in 1948. Palestinians are demanding their right to return to the homes and land their families were expelled from during the establishment of the Israeli entity in 1948.
Gaza - a territory of more than two million people - has been under a devastating Israeli-imposed blockade for the past 12 years, which has severely restricted the movement of Palestinians in and out of the territory.
Kuwait on Tuesday circulated a watered-down draft UN Security Council resolution on setting up an international protection mission for the Palestinians in a bid to win European support in a vote expected this week, diplomats said.
The council could hold a vote, possibly on Thursday, on the draft resolution that is expected to face a US veto.
Kuwait, a non-permanent council member that represents Arab countries, is hoping to win a high number of votes in favor of its proposal to highlight Washington’s isolation on the Israeli-Palestinian issue.
The revised draft drops an outright demand for an international protection mission and instead requests that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres present recommendations.
The new text “calls for the consideration of measures to guarantee the safety and protection of the Palestinian civilian population” in the occupied Palestinian territories and the Gaza Strip.
It requests that Guterres present a report within 60 days on proposals for the protection of Palestinian civilians including the establishment of an international mission.
France and Britain, two veto-wielding council members, have complained that the draft resolution lacked details on the scope and objective of the proposed protection mission.
The United States, meanwhile, claimed that the measure was biased against Israel during two expert-level meetings held last week, according to diplomatic sources.
Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon has slammed the proposed resolution as “shameful” and claimed it was designed to help Gaza’s rulers Hamas.
Kuwait put forward the draft resolution ten days ago after Israeli forced killed dozens of Palestinians during protests on the Gaza border and the United States opened its embassy in Occupied Jerusalem.
Negotiations however have been tough-going with the Europeans and Africans pressing for more information on the proposed protection mission, according to diplomats.
Diplomats have said the Palestinians may turn to the UN General Assembly if the draft resolution on protection fails to win Security Council backing.
The council is due to meet Wednesday at the request of the United States to discuss alleged Palestinian rocket firings on Israel from blockaded Gaza.
The council could hold a vote, possibly on Thursday, on the draft resolution that is expected to face a US veto.
Kuwait, a non-permanent council member that represents Arab countries, is hoping to win a high number of votes in favor of its proposal to highlight Washington’s isolation on the Israeli-Palestinian issue.
The revised draft drops an outright demand for an international protection mission and instead requests that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres present recommendations.
The new text “calls for the consideration of measures to guarantee the safety and protection of the Palestinian civilian population” in the occupied Palestinian territories and the Gaza Strip.
It requests that Guterres present a report within 60 days on proposals for the protection of Palestinian civilians including the establishment of an international mission.
France and Britain, two veto-wielding council members, have complained that the draft resolution lacked details on the scope and objective of the proposed protection mission.
The United States, meanwhile, claimed that the measure was biased against Israel during two expert-level meetings held last week, according to diplomatic sources.
Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon has slammed the proposed resolution as “shameful” and claimed it was designed to help Gaza’s rulers Hamas.
Kuwait put forward the draft resolution ten days ago after Israeli forced killed dozens of Palestinians during protests on the Gaza border and the United States opened its embassy in Occupied Jerusalem.
Negotiations however have been tough-going with the Europeans and Africans pressing for more information on the proposed protection mission, according to diplomats.
Diplomats have said the Palestinians may turn to the UN General Assembly if the draft resolution on protection fails to win Security Council backing.
The council is due to meet Wednesday at the request of the United States to discuss alleged Palestinian rocket firings on Israel from blockaded Gaza.
American Ambassador to UN Nikki Haley condemns attacks out of Gaza at Israel's southern communities, saying Security Council should be 'outraged and respond,' calls to hold Palestinian leadership 'accountable'; Israel says not looking for escalation but warns Hamas it would retaliate if needed.
The United States has condemned the attacks out of Gaza and called for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council in the wake of Palestinian rocket fire on Israel fired at Israel Tuesday.
US Ambassador Nikki Haley said the Security Council "should be outraged and respond."
The rocket and mortar firings from the Gaza Strip were claimed by Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, prompting Israel to respond with air strikes on bases of the terrorist Palestinian groups.
It was the worst flareup since the 2014 war between Israel in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.
"Mortars fired by Palestinian militants hit civilian infrastructure, including a kindergarten," US Ambassador Nikki Haley said in a statement on Tuesday.
"The Security Council should be outraged and respond to this latest bout of violence directed at innocent Israeli civilians, and the Palestinian leadership needs to be held accountable for what they're allowing to happen in Gaza."
The United States circulated a draft statement calling on the council to condemn "in the strongest terms the indiscriminate firing of rockets by Palestinian militants in Gaza" toward Israel, according to a copy of the text seen by AFP.
The council will hear a report from UN envoy for the Middle East Nickolay Mladenov during the meeting scheduled for 3pm (7pm GMT) Wednesday.
Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon the planned meeting was a "positive step. But the Council's members must take serious action, and not make do with words."
He called on the Security Council to "strongly condemn Hamas and hold the terrorist organization accountable for these latest attacks in order to restore calmness and protect the citizens on both sides of the fence."
He further demanded the Council "to officially recognize Hamas as a terror group."
"For weeks we've warned that the violent rioting along the Gaza border—including planting explosives along the fence and live fire at our security forces—were not a s spontaneous protest, but a violent coordinated attack against Israel," Danon elaborated.
"The dozens of rockets and mortars fired at Israel leave no doubt about the intentions of those who have incited, encouraged and went as far as paying for those ongoing riots," the Israeli ambassador went on say.
The IDF has said it was not seeking an escalation, but warned Hamas—with whom it has fought three wars since 2008—to rein in its fighters. Three Israeli soldiers were wounded in the exchange of fire.
Islamic Jihad announced an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire agreement with Israel.
The confrontation followed weeks of deadly demonstrations and clashes along the Gaza-Israel border.
Dozens of Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the unrest.
The US-drafted council statement would demand that Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other militant groups "cease all violent activity and provocative actions, including along the boundary fence, and cease putting civilians at risk through their actions."
The council has been divided over the violence in Gaza and it was unclear whether the US-proposed statement would win full backing. Security Council statements are adopted by consensus by all 15 members.
Separately, council diplomats are negotiating a draft resolution, put forward by Kuwait, that calls for an "international protection mission" to be deployed for the Palestinians.
Diplomats said the United States is likely to use its veto to block adoption of that measure, but Kuwait is hoping to win backing from the 14 other council members to highlight Washington's isolation on the Israeli-Palestinian issue.
The United States has condemned the attacks out of Gaza and called for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council in the wake of Palestinian rocket fire on Israel fired at Israel Tuesday.
US Ambassador Nikki Haley said the Security Council "should be outraged and respond."
The rocket and mortar firings from the Gaza Strip were claimed by Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, prompting Israel to respond with air strikes on bases of the terrorist Palestinian groups.
It was the worst flareup since the 2014 war between Israel in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.
"Mortars fired by Palestinian militants hit civilian infrastructure, including a kindergarten," US Ambassador Nikki Haley said in a statement on Tuesday.
"The Security Council should be outraged and respond to this latest bout of violence directed at innocent Israeli civilians, and the Palestinian leadership needs to be held accountable for what they're allowing to happen in Gaza."
The United States circulated a draft statement calling on the council to condemn "in the strongest terms the indiscriminate firing of rockets by Palestinian militants in Gaza" toward Israel, according to a copy of the text seen by AFP.
The council will hear a report from UN envoy for the Middle East Nickolay Mladenov during the meeting scheduled for 3pm (7pm GMT) Wednesday.
Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon the planned meeting was a "positive step. But the Council's members must take serious action, and not make do with words."
He called on the Security Council to "strongly condemn Hamas and hold the terrorist organization accountable for these latest attacks in order to restore calmness and protect the citizens on both sides of the fence."
He further demanded the Council "to officially recognize Hamas as a terror group."
"For weeks we've warned that the violent rioting along the Gaza border—including planting explosives along the fence and live fire at our security forces—were not a s spontaneous protest, but a violent coordinated attack against Israel," Danon elaborated.
"The dozens of rockets and mortars fired at Israel leave no doubt about the intentions of those who have incited, encouraged and went as far as paying for those ongoing riots," the Israeli ambassador went on say.
The IDF has said it was not seeking an escalation, but warned Hamas—with whom it has fought three wars since 2008—to rein in its fighters. Three Israeli soldiers were wounded in the exchange of fire.
Islamic Jihad announced an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire agreement with Israel.
The confrontation followed weeks of deadly demonstrations and clashes along the Gaza-Israel border.
Dozens of Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the unrest.
The US-drafted council statement would demand that Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other militant groups "cease all violent activity and provocative actions, including along the boundary fence, and cease putting civilians at risk through their actions."
The council has been divided over the violence in Gaza and it was unclear whether the US-proposed statement would win full backing. Security Council statements are adopted by consensus by all 15 members.
Separately, council diplomats are negotiating a draft resolution, put forward by Kuwait, that calls for an "international protection mission" to be deployed for the Palestinians.
Diplomats said the United States is likely to use its veto to block adoption of that measure, but Kuwait is hoping to win backing from the 14 other council members to highlight Washington's isolation on the Israeli-Palestinian issue.
The Israeli army continued, on Wednesday at dawn, the firing of missiles, targeting several areas of the besieged Gaza Strip, in what Israel called “retaliation to shells fired from Gaza into Israeli communities, across the border fence.”
The Israeli Air Force fired at least three missiles into a site, run by an armed resistance group, west of Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.
The Air Force also fired missiles into the port, east of Khan Younis, and a site in the eastern part of Sheja’eyya neighborhood, east Gaza city.
Furthermore, Israeli military drones fired three missiles into the “Civil Administration Center,” and two missiles into another site, run by the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas.
Israel said several shells were fired from Gaza into communities in the Negev, Sha’ar HaNegev and Netivot, striking a number of buildings, including a shell reportedly landing in the yard of a kindergarten.
Israeli sources said one Israeli suffered a moderate injury, and four others sustained light wounds.
Meanwhile, the Islamic Jihad said a truce was reached under mediation from Egypt, but Israel denied the reports, and said, “no ceasefire was reached by any party with Hamas or the Islamic Jihad.”
According to the Palestinian Maan News Agency, an Israeli media analyst of Maariv said both Israel and Hamas are interested in a truce, but ” wants a truce before Israel retaliates, and Israel wants a truce after it retaliates.”
The Health Ministry in Gaza called on the Palestinians to remain alert, and to avoid entering areas targeted by the army.
The Israeli army said all the targeted sites in Gaza are “run by Hamas,” including tunnels, and various structures, and alleged that Hamas fired more than 80 shells.
On his part, Khalil al-Hayya, a political leader of Hamas said the movement, and all armed resistance groups, are committed to ceasefire, as long as Israel is committed to it.
Israeli leaders hold Hamas and the Islamic Jihad fully responsible for the escalation, although the two groups, and other armed resistance factions have refrained from firing shells or attacking Israeli targets until the military killed on Monday, Mohammad Masoud al-Radea’, 31, a member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, when the army fired at least two shells at a site run by the group, in Beit Lahia town, in northern Gaza.
His death came just a day after the Israeli army fired several shells into a structure and Palestinian lands, between Rafah and Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, killing two members of the Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad, identified as Hussein Samir al-‘Amour, 25, and Abdul-Halim Abdul-Karim an-Naqa, 28.
A third Palestinian, identified as Naseem Marwan al-‘Amour, 20, was seriously injured in the Israeli strike, and died from his wounds at the European Hospital in Gaza.
The Israeli Air Force fired at least three missiles into a site, run by an armed resistance group, west of Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.
The Air Force also fired missiles into the port, east of Khan Younis, and a site in the eastern part of Sheja’eyya neighborhood, east Gaza city.
Furthermore, Israeli military drones fired three missiles into the “Civil Administration Center,” and two missiles into another site, run by the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas.
Israel said several shells were fired from Gaza into communities in the Negev, Sha’ar HaNegev and Netivot, striking a number of buildings, including a shell reportedly landing in the yard of a kindergarten.
Israeli sources said one Israeli suffered a moderate injury, and four others sustained light wounds.
Meanwhile, the Islamic Jihad said a truce was reached under mediation from Egypt, but Israel denied the reports, and said, “no ceasefire was reached by any party with Hamas or the Islamic Jihad.”
According to the Palestinian Maan News Agency, an Israeli media analyst of Maariv said both Israel and Hamas are interested in a truce, but ” wants a truce before Israel retaliates, and Israel wants a truce after it retaliates.”
The Health Ministry in Gaza called on the Palestinians to remain alert, and to avoid entering areas targeted by the army.
The Israeli army said all the targeted sites in Gaza are “run by Hamas,” including tunnels, and various structures, and alleged that Hamas fired more than 80 shells.
On his part, Khalil al-Hayya, a political leader of Hamas said the movement, and all armed resistance groups, are committed to ceasefire, as long as Israel is committed to it.
Israeli leaders hold Hamas and the Islamic Jihad fully responsible for the escalation, although the two groups, and other armed resistance factions have refrained from firing shells or attacking Israeli targets until the military killed on Monday, Mohammad Masoud al-Radea’, 31, a member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, when the army fired at least two shells at a site run by the group, in Beit Lahia town, in northern Gaza.
His death came just a day after the Israeli army fired several shells into a structure and Palestinian lands, between Rafah and Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, killing two members of the Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad, identified as Hussein Samir al-‘Amour, 25, and Abdul-Halim Abdul-Karim an-Naqa, 28.
A third Palestinian, identified as Naseem Marwan al-‘Amour, 20, was seriously injured in the Israeli strike, and died from his wounds at the European Hospital in Gaza.
29 may 2018
Al-Qassam and al-Quds Brigades, the armed wings of Hamas and the Islamic Jihad movements, announced their joint responsibility for Tuesday's barrage of rockets and mortar shells fired at Israeli settlements neighboring the Gaza Strip.
Al-Qassam and al-Quds Brigades said in a joint statement that the attacks came in response to Israeli aggressions on the Palestinian people and resistance fighters in the last 48 hours.
"Our joint retaliation is a declaration to all those concerned that the Israeli crimes will not be tolerated," they added.
The Brigades stressed that they will not allow the Israeli occupation to impose new facts on the ground by shedding the blood of the Palestinian people.
The statement was concluded by a warning that all options will be open to the Palestinian resistance factions, who will keep the Palestinian people's interests a top priority, no matter what the cost is.
Al-Qassam and al-Quds Brigades said in a joint statement that the attacks came in response to Israeli aggressions on the Palestinian people and resistance fighters in the last 48 hours.
"Our joint retaliation is a declaration to all those concerned that the Israeli crimes will not be tolerated," they added.
The Brigades stressed that they will not allow the Israeli occupation to impose new facts on the ground by shedding the blood of the Palestinian people.
The statement was concluded by a warning that all options will be open to the Palestinian resistance factions, who will keep the Palestinian people's interests a top priority, no matter what the cost is.
The Israeli security cabinet on Tuesday evening ordered the Israeli army to continue its attacks on the Gaza Strip in response to the Palestinian resistance's targeting of Israeli settlements with mortar shells and rockets.
Hebrew media sources said, following the cabinet meeting, that tension is expected to run high in the Gaza Strip in the coming hours.
The cabinet instructed the Israeli settlers living within a distance of up to 7 kilometers from the Gaza Strip to stay close to shelters while maintaining their daily routine as much as possible.
For his part, Israel's War Minister Avigdor Lieberman threatened, "Every place from which rockets are fired at the Israeli territory is a legitimate target for the Israeli air force."
The Israeli Ministry of Education canceled all trips that were supposed to take place up to 15 kilometers from the Gaza Strip border on Wednesday.
Hebrew media sources said, following the cabinet meeting, that tension is expected to run high in the Gaza Strip in the coming hours.
The cabinet instructed the Israeli settlers living within a distance of up to 7 kilometers from the Gaza Strip to stay close to shelters while maintaining their daily routine as much as possible.
For his part, Israel's War Minister Avigdor Lieberman threatened, "Every place from which rockets are fired at the Israeli territory is a legitimate target for the Israeli air force."
The Israeli Ministry of Education canceled all trips that were supposed to take place up to 15 kilometers from the Gaza Strip border on Wednesday.
Hamas Movement defended Tuesday's rocket fire at a number of Israeli targets as a "natural response to Israeli crimes".
Spokesman for the group Fawzi Barhoum has held the Israeli occupation state fully responsible for consequences resulting from its persistent military escalation against the population and their resistance in the Gaza Strip.
At six Israelis, including three soldiers, were injured by shrapnel on Tuesday when rockets fired from the Gaza Strip struck the Eshkol settlement complex in southern Israel, according to Israeli media reports.
The incident came few hours after Israeli warplanes targeted a number of resistance sites belong to Hamas and Islamic Jihad movements. A secondary school was also targeted during the attack.
Four resistance fighters were killed in Israeli artillery attacks on resistance posts in northern and southern Gaza.
Spokesman for the group Fawzi Barhoum has held the Israeli occupation state fully responsible for consequences resulting from its persistent military escalation against the population and their resistance in the Gaza Strip.
At six Israelis, including three soldiers, were injured by shrapnel on Tuesday when rockets fired from the Gaza Strip struck the Eshkol settlement complex in southern Israel, according to Israeli media reports.
The incident came few hours after Israeli warplanes targeted a number of resistance sites belong to Hamas and Islamic Jihad movements. A secondary school was also targeted during the attack.
Four resistance fighters were killed in Israeli artillery attacks on resistance posts in northern and southern Gaza.
Six Israelis, including three soldiers, were injured by rocket shrapnel fired by Palestinian resistance near the southern Gaza Strip on Tuesday.
Israeli media sources said that three settlers were injured in Sderot to the south of Israel. According to the reports, one of them is in critical condition.
Meanwhile, three soldiers were hospitalized for injuries sustained during the rocket fire. One suffered moderate injuries to his legs, and the other two sustained light wounds.
Earlier Tuesday afternoon, Israeli warplanes bombed a number of resistance sites in different Gaza Strip provinces and a secondary school, causing damage to a number of neighboring buildings.
In the past two days, four resistance fighters from Hamas and the Islamic Jihad were killed in Israeli artillery attacks on resistance posts in northern and southern Gaza.
Israeli media sources said that three settlers were injured in Sderot to the south of Israel. According to the reports, one of them is in critical condition.
Meanwhile, three soldiers were hospitalized for injuries sustained during the rocket fire. One suffered moderate injuries to his legs, and the other two sustained light wounds.
Earlier Tuesday afternoon, Israeli warplanes bombed a number of resistance sites in different Gaza Strip provinces and a secondary school, causing damage to a number of neighboring buildings.
In the past two days, four resistance fighters from Hamas and the Islamic Jihad were killed in Israeli artillery attacks on resistance posts in northern and southern Gaza.
Israeli warplanes on Tuesday afternoon bombed a number of resistance sites in different Gaza Strip provinces.
The PIC reporter said that Israeli drones and warplanes have so far fired 30 missiles at resistance posts belonging to Hamas and the Islamic Jihad movements.
The Israeli drones and F16 planes have not left Gaza's sky since the morning hours, while Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened to launch a large-scale aggression on the besieged area.
According to the Israeli occupation army, an Israeli settler was slightly injured after 28 mortar shells were fired at dawn Tuesday from the Gaza Strip at Israeli settlements neighboring the enclave.
In the past two days, 4 resistance fighters from Hamas and the Islamic Jihad were killed in Israeli artillery attacks on resistance posts in northern and southern Gaza.
Israel threatens to respond with great force to resistance attack
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday threatened to respond with "great force" to a barrage of mortar shells fired from the Gaza Strip at neighboring Israeli settlements.
"Israel views the attacks by Hamas and the Islamic Jihad from the Gaza Strip with great severity," Netanyahu said following urgent security consultations held in the morning.
He stressed that the Israeli army will retaliate with great force to these attacks and that Israel will make anyone trying to harm it "pay a heavy price", adding that Hamas should be responsible for preventing such attacks.
Israel's War Minister Avigdor Lieberman called a "special situational assessment" at the Ministry's Tel Aviv headquarters with the army's Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot and other senior figures from Israel's security services.
Observers expect that tension will run high in the Gaza Strip as Israel may strike targets in Gaza without generating into an open war similar to the one waged on the besieged area in the summer of 2014.
The Israeli occupation army in a statement said that a barrage of at least 25 mortar shells was fired on Tuesday morning from the Gaza Strip at Israeli settlements, adding that most of the shells were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system.
In the past two days, 4 Palestinian resistance fighters were killed in Israeli artillery attacks on resistance posts in northern and southern Gaza.
IDF pounds Gaza targets after PM vows 'heavy price' for mortar salvo
The PIC reporter said that Israeli drones and warplanes have so far fired 30 missiles at resistance posts belonging to Hamas and the Islamic Jihad movements.
The Israeli drones and F16 planes have not left Gaza's sky since the morning hours, while Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened to launch a large-scale aggression on the besieged area.
According to the Israeli occupation army, an Israeli settler was slightly injured after 28 mortar shells were fired at dawn Tuesday from the Gaza Strip at Israeli settlements neighboring the enclave.
In the past two days, 4 resistance fighters from Hamas and the Islamic Jihad were killed in Israeli artillery attacks on resistance posts in northern and southern Gaza.
Israel threatens to respond with great force to resistance attack
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday threatened to respond with "great force" to a barrage of mortar shells fired from the Gaza Strip at neighboring Israeli settlements.
"Israel views the attacks by Hamas and the Islamic Jihad from the Gaza Strip with great severity," Netanyahu said following urgent security consultations held in the morning.
He stressed that the Israeli army will retaliate with great force to these attacks and that Israel will make anyone trying to harm it "pay a heavy price", adding that Hamas should be responsible for preventing such attacks.
Israel's War Minister Avigdor Lieberman called a "special situational assessment" at the Ministry's Tel Aviv headquarters with the army's Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot and other senior figures from Israel's security services.
Observers expect that tension will run high in the Gaza Strip as Israel may strike targets in Gaza without generating into an open war similar to the one waged on the besieged area in the summer of 2014.
The Israeli occupation army in a statement said that a barrage of at least 25 mortar shells was fired on Tuesday morning from the Gaza Strip at Israeli settlements, adding that most of the shells were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system.
In the past two days, 4 Palestinian resistance fighters were killed in Israeli artillery attacks on resistance posts in northern and southern Gaza.
IDF pounds Gaza targets after PM vows 'heavy price' for mortar salvo
A few hours after the Israeli occupation army carried out artillery attacks on three Palestinian resistance posts north of the Gaza Strip, killing one citizen and injuring another, a hail of projectiles was fired at settlements around the besieged enclave on Tuesday morning.
One resistance fighter from al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas was killed and another citizen suffered injuries on Monday evening after Israeli tanks shelled three resistance posts in Beit Lahia, north of Gaza.
Last Sunday, three resistance fighters from al-Quds Brigades (Islamic Jihad) were also killed in an Israeli artillery attack on an observation post east of Khan Younis in southern Gaza.
According to an Israeli army spokesperson, two barrages of mortars, consisting of 27 projectiles in total, were fired from Gaza at towns in southern Israel on Tuesday morning, adding that Israel’s anti-missile system intercepted most of the projectiles.
Rocket sirens were also activated in more than 20 Israeli settlements on the border with Gaza, while settlers were instructed to go to shelters.
One resistance fighter from al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas was killed and another citizen suffered injuries on Monday evening after Israeli tanks shelled three resistance posts in Beit Lahia, north of Gaza.
Last Sunday, three resistance fighters from al-Quds Brigades (Islamic Jihad) were also killed in an Israeli artillery attack on an observation post east of Khan Younis in southern Gaza.
According to an Israeli army spokesperson, two barrages of mortars, consisting of 27 projectiles in total, were fired from Gaza at towns in southern Israel on Tuesday morning, adding that Israel’s anti-missile system intercepted most of the projectiles.
Rocket sirens were also activated in more than 20 Israeli settlements on the border with Gaza, while settlers were instructed to go to shelters.
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