16 july 2018
The Israeli occupation authorities on Monday announced the complete closure of Karam Abu Salem, the only commercial crossing connecting the Gaza Strip with the outside world, until further notice.
Palestinian official Raed Fattouh said in press statements that the Israeli authorities declared that only medicines will be allowed entry into the coastal enclave when needed.
Karam Abu Salem is the only commercial outlet for the Palestinian people in Gaza who have been living under difficult economic conditions in view of the ongoing blockade and tightened restrictions on the entry and exit of goods.
The move came a week after the Israeli government decided to ban the export of goods through the crossing and reduce the number of trucks carrying goods to Gaza in response to the fire kites and balloons launched from Gaza toward neighboring Israeli settlements.
Since the start of the Great March of Return in Gaza, Palestinian youths, in response to Israeli crimes, have launched dozens of fire kites and balloons toward Israeli settlements burning thousands of dunums of settler farmlands.
A spokesman for the Israeli army threatened to tighten sanctions on the Gaza Strip if Palestinian protesters continue to fly fire kites over the border fence, and held Hamas responsible for all that is happening in the enclave.
Palestinian official Raed Fattouh said in press statements that the Israeli authorities declared that only medicines will be allowed entry into the coastal enclave when needed.
Karam Abu Salem is the only commercial outlet for the Palestinian people in Gaza who have been living under difficult economic conditions in view of the ongoing blockade and tightened restrictions on the entry and exit of goods.
The move came a week after the Israeli government decided to ban the export of goods through the crossing and reduce the number of trucks carrying goods to Gaza in response to the fire kites and balloons launched from Gaza toward neighboring Israeli settlements.
Since the start of the Great March of Return in Gaza, Palestinian youths, in response to Israeli crimes, have launched dozens of fire kites and balloons toward Israeli settlements burning thousands of dunums of settler farmlands.
A spokesman for the Israeli army threatened to tighten sanctions on the Gaza Strip if Palestinian protesters continue to fly fire kites over the border fence, and held Hamas responsible for all that is happening in the enclave.
Several incendiary balloons flown from the Gaza Strip on Monday caused fires in different locations in Israeli settlements near the border fence with the besieged Gaza Strip.
According to Israeli Hebrew sources, balloons flown from Gaza have caused fires in Israeli locations near the border including including Karmiya Reserve, Shikma Reservoir near Zikim, in addition to two fires in Eshkol Regional Council, two other fires in Kibbutz Beeri, and four fires at Kibbutz Kissufim.
The flaming kites were flown in challenge to the Israeli decision on Sunday afternoon to end the issue of Gaza balloons by “military reaction”.
Incendiary kites and balloons have been launched into Israeli communities bordering the Gaza Strip since the outbreak of the Great March of Return protests, launched on March 30 at the Gaza border to call for Palestinians’ right of return to their motherland.
According to Israeli Hebrew sources, balloons flown from Gaza have caused fires in Israeli locations near the border including including Karmiya Reserve, Shikma Reservoir near Zikim, in addition to two fires in Eshkol Regional Council, two other fires in Kibbutz Beeri, and four fires at Kibbutz Kissufim.
The flaming kites were flown in challenge to the Israeli decision on Sunday afternoon to end the issue of Gaza balloons by “military reaction”.
Incendiary kites and balloons have been launched into Israeli communities bordering the Gaza Strip since the outbreak of the Great March of Return protests, launched on March 30 at the Gaza border to call for Palestinians’ right of return to their motherland.
Naftali Bennett
Israeli Education Minister Naftali Bennett during a cabinet meeting on Sunday called for targeting Gaza children who fly fire kites near Gaza border by warplanes.
According to Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper on Monday, a sharp dispute broke out in the Israeli cabinet session. The ministers disagreed on the direct shooting of Palestinian children flying kites and balloons over Gaza border fence. Naftali repeatedly called for children to be targeted by warplanes.
"Why do not we shoot at anyone who fires aerial weapons at our communities? There is no legal impediment. Why do we shoot next to them and not at them? We are talking about terrorists in every respect."
The Israeli occupation army's Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot opposed Naftali's request saying, "I do not think that it is right to target children and young people who usually fly fire kites."
"And if a fire kite flyer was identified as an adult?" asked Bennett. "Are you suggesting dropping bombs from an aircraft on kites and balloons flyers?" asked Eisenkot. "Yes," said Bennett.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ended the discussion by saying that fire kites terrorism must come to an end without explaining how.
Bennett further criticized the Egypt-brokered ceasefire reached with the Palestinian resistance factions saying that it would give Hamas a chance to rearm.
Bennett, Eisenkot go head-to-head over IDF's Gaza policy
Education minister believes all incendiary balloon and kite launchers should be fired upon, while the IDF chief cautions there are children and teenagers among them; 'It's against my operational and moral positions,' Eisenkot says.
Education Minister Naftali Bennett went head-to-head with IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot on Sunday afternoon over the military's reluctance to shoot incendiary balloon and kite fliers.
The Security Cabinet met Sunday to discuss the tensions on the Gaza border, with the discussion focusing on a response to the incendiary kites and balloons, which have been wreaking havoc in Israel, burning thousands of acres of farmland and wooded areas. While the Cabinet approved a new policy according which the IDF would open fire on any cells launching incendiary balloons and kites, Bennett disagreed with the nature and force of the response.
When discussing the fact children are often among the incendiary balloon and kite cells, Bennett wondered, "Why not shoot anyone who launches aerial weapons at our communities, and at the cells? There is no legal impediment. Why shoot next to them and not directly at them? These are terrorists for all intents and purposes."
The IDF chief responded, saying, "I don't think shooting teens and children—who are sometimes the ones launching the balloons and kites—is right."
"And what if it's an adult identified as an adult?" Bennett asked.
"Are you proposing to drop a bomb from a plane on incendiary balloon and kite cells?" Eisenkot asked.
When Bennett responded in the affirmative, the IDF chief said: "I disagree with you. It's against my operational and moral positions."
During the discussion, defense officials reported that Hamas was very surprised by the intensity of the IDF attacks over the weekend and begged for a ceasefire. They explained the IDF's policy regarding the incendiary balloons launchers is not to shoot to kill them, with the attacks carried out near launch sites in an effort to wound and deter.
Bennett was also criticial of the government's decision to accept the ceasefire with Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza after an intense round of fighting on Saturday. "A ceasefire without stopping terrorism is surrender," he determined.
"For three months, we've been witnessing the fire terrorism, with some 1,000 explosive and incendiary balloons used against the Gaza border residents. Just in the past few days, the south's residents suffered some 200 rockets," Bennett lamented.
"In a timing that is convenient it, Hamas is dictating that we're now having a ceasefire. So let's make this clear: a ceasefire without stopping the fire terrorism is not deterrence, it's surrender," he stressed.
Bennett said he and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked would object in the Cabinet to "any ceasefire that allows Hamas to rearm itself and allows Hamas to continue launching fire balloons towards the south's residents."
Israeli Education Minister Naftali Bennett during a cabinet meeting on Sunday called for targeting Gaza children who fly fire kites near Gaza border by warplanes.
According to Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper on Monday, a sharp dispute broke out in the Israeli cabinet session. The ministers disagreed on the direct shooting of Palestinian children flying kites and balloons over Gaza border fence. Naftali repeatedly called for children to be targeted by warplanes.
"Why do not we shoot at anyone who fires aerial weapons at our communities? There is no legal impediment. Why do we shoot next to them and not at them? We are talking about terrorists in every respect."
The Israeli occupation army's Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot opposed Naftali's request saying, "I do not think that it is right to target children and young people who usually fly fire kites."
"And if a fire kite flyer was identified as an adult?" asked Bennett. "Are you suggesting dropping bombs from an aircraft on kites and balloons flyers?" asked Eisenkot. "Yes," said Bennett.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ended the discussion by saying that fire kites terrorism must come to an end without explaining how.
Bennett further criticized the Egypt-brokered ceasefire reached with the Palestinian resistance factions saying that it would give Hamas a chance to rearm.
Bennett, Eisenkot go head-to-head over IDF's Gaza policy
Education minister believes all incendiary balloon and kite launchers should be fired upon, while the IDF chief cautions there are children and teenagers among them; 'It's against my operational and moral positions,' Eisenkot says.
Education Minister Naftali Bennett went head-to-head with IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot on Sunday afternoon over the military's reluctance to shoot incendiary balloon and kite fliers.
The Security Cabinet met Sunday to discuss the tensions on the Gaza border, with the discussion focusing on a response to the incendiary kites and balloons, which have been wreaking havoc in Israel, burning thousands of acres of farmland and wooded areas. While the Cabinet approved a new policy according which the IDF would open fire on any cells launching incendiary balloons and kites, Bennett disagreed with the nature and force of the response.
When discussing the fact children are often among the incendiary balloon and kite cells, Bennett wondered, "Why not shoot anyone who launches aerial weapons at our communities, and at the cells? There is no legal impediment. Why shoot next to them and not directly at them? These are terrorists for all intents and purposes."
The IDF chief responded, saying, "I don't think shooting teens and children—who are sometimes the ones launching the balloons and kites—is right."
"And what if it's an adult identified as an adult?" Bennett asked.
"Are you proposing to drop a bomb from a plane on incendiary balloon and kite cells?" Eisenkot asked.
When Bennett responded in the affirmative, the IDF chief said: "I disagree with you. It's against my operational and moral positions."
During the discussion, defense officials reported that Hamas was very surprised by the intensity of the IDF attacks over the weekend and begged for a ceasefire. They explained the IDF's policy regarding the incendiary balloons launchers is not to shoot to kill them, with the attacks carried out near launch sites in an effort to wound and deter.
Bennett was also criticial of the government's decision to accept the ceasefire with Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza after an intense round of fighting on Saturday. "A ceasefire without stopping terrorism is surrender," he determined.
"For three months, we've been witnessing the fire terrorism, with some 1,000 explosive and incendiary balloons used against the Gaza border residents. Just in the past few days, the south's residents suffered some 200 rockets," Bennett lamented.
"In a timing that is convenient it, Hamas is dictating that we're now having a ceasefire. So let's make this clear: a ceasefire without stopping the fire terrorism is not deterrence, it's surrender," he stressed.
Bennett said he and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked would object in the Cabinet to "any ceasefire that allows Hamas to rearm itself and allows Hamas to continue launching fire balloons towards the south's residents."
15 july 2018
Head of Hamas's Political Bureau Ismail Haneyya on Sunday said that the Palestinian resistance will not allow Israel to impose new rules of war.
During the funeral of two children killed by an Israeli airstrike on Gaza Saturday, Haneyya said that many parties intervened to stop the escalation, adding that the Palestinian resistance has the "stronger word".
As for getting the resistance to restore calm on the front while Israel's planes are killing people in Gaza, the Hamas leader stressed, it is unacceptable for "this enemy" to impose new rules of war.
He vowed that resistance factions in the Gaza Strip would retaliate for any further Israeli attacks on the coastal enclave.
Haneyya affirmed that the Palestinian resistance will spare no effort to protect the Great March of Return protests which helped draw the international community's attention to the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza.
"Either the siege is lifted or you will face more intense and stronger marches," he said.
He continued to say, "The Deal of the Century was born dead. No Palestinian or regional party will dare to agree to a deal rejected by our people and resistance factions."
Haneyya touched on a meeting he had held earlier in the day with UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nikolay Mladenov. He said, "Everyone is looking for a solution while the answer is clear: lift the unjust siege on Gaza. The Palestinian people no longer believe your promises. They want real results that end the siege once and forever."
He said that Gaza border protests will continue until all their objectives are achieved, particularly ending the blockade and reviving the right of return in the memory of the new generations.
He stressed that while conspiracies are being plotted to liquidate the Palestinian cause, the Palestinian people in Gaza, Jerusalem and everywhere stand to say no to Donald Trump's Deal of the Century and any project that involves relinquishing any inch of the Palestinian land.
During the funeral of two children killed by an Israeli airstrike on Gaza Saturday, Haneyya said that many parties intervened to stop the escalation, adding that the Palestinian resistance has the "stronger word".
As for getting the resistance to restore calm on the front while Israel's planes are killing people in Gaza, the Hamas leader stressed, it is unacceptable for "this enemy" to impose new rules of war.
He vowed that resistance factions in the Gaza Strip would retaliate for any further Israeli attacks on the coastal enclave.
Haneyya affirmed that the Palestinian resistance will spare no effort to protect the Great March of Return protests which helped draw the international community's attention to the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza.
"Either the siege is lifted or you will face more intense and stronger marches," he said.
He continued to say, "The Deal of the Century was born dead. No Palestinian or regional party will dare to agree to a deal rejected by our people and resistance factions."
Haneyya touched on a meeting he had held earlier in the day with UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nikolay Mladenov. He said, "Everyone is looking for a solution while the answer is clear: lift the unjust siege on Gaza. The Palestinian people no longer believe your promises. They want real results that end the siege once and forever."
He said that Gaza border protests will continue until all their objectives are achieved, particularly ending the blockade and reviving the right of return in the memory of the new generations.
He stressed that while conspiracies are being plotted to liquidate the Palestinian cause, the Palestinian people in Gaza, Jerusalem and everywhere stand to say no to Donald Trump's Deal of the Century and any project that involves relinquishing any inch of the Palestinian land.
The UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nickolay Mladenov, called on Israeli authorities to halt targeting the children of Gaza.
Mladenov, who visited Gaza Strip on Sunday morning, said there is only one way to end the ongoing escalation which is through maintaining peace, seizing fire and putting an end to the humanitarian crisis.
He added that the UN and its partners have immediate plans to end the tragic situation in Gaza, but basic issues need to be solved first. He called for returning to reconciliation and supporting the Palestinian government.
Mladenov also urged Palestinians to maintain peaceful demonstrations and to halt firing rockets and flying of burning kites.
The UN envoy hailed the Egyptian efforts to open Rafah crossing permanently and stressed that the UN will increase its presence in Gaza for ending the suffering of the Gazan people.
Mladenov, who visited Gaza Strip on Sunday morning, said there is only one way to end the ongoing escalation which is through maintaining peace, seizing fire and putting an end to the humanitarian crisis.
He added that the UN and its partners have immediate plans to end the tragic situation in Gaza, but basic issues need to be solved first. He called for returning to reconciliation and supporting the Palestinian government.
Mladenov also urged Palestinians to maintain peaceful demonstrations and to halt firing rockets and flying of burning kites.
The UN envoy hailed the Egyptian efforts to open Rafah crossing permanently and stressed that the UN will increase its presence in Gaza for ending the suffering of the Gazan people.
Two Palestinians sustained injuries afternoon Sunday after Israeli drones struck a group of Palestinian youths in Beit Hanun, north of the blockaded Gaza Strip.
Spokesman for the Palestinian Health Ministry, Ashraf Qidrah, said two Palestinians were injured in an Israeli air raid targeting a group of Palestinian youths gathering in al-Misryeen Street, east of Beit Hanun.
The strike represents a violation to the de-escalation accord struck with Palestinian resistance factions at nightfall Saturday.
Spokesman for the Palestinian Health Ministry, Ashraf Qidrah, said two Palestinians were injured in an Israeli air raid targeting a group of Palestinian youths gathering in al-Misryeen Street, east of Beit Hanun.
The strike represents a violation to the de-escalation accord struck with Palestinian resistance factions at nightfall Saturday.
Several incendiary balloons flown from the Gaza Strip on Sunday caused fires in different locations in Israeli settlements near the border fence with the besieged Gaza Strip.
According to 0404 Hebrew website, balloons flown from Gaza have caused 17 fires in Israeli locations near the border since the morning.
The flaming kites were flown in response to the Israeli decision on Sunday afternoon to end the issue of Gaza balloons by “military reaction”.
Incendiary kites and balloons have been launched into Israeli communities bordering the Gaza Strip since the outbreak of the Great March of Return protests, launched on March 30 at the Gaza border to call for Palestinians’ right of return to their motherland.
Firefighters battle 6 fires sparked by flaming balloons on Gaza border
Israeli firefighters were dispatched on Sunday morning to the Gaza border area allegedly after flaming balloons were sent soaring over the border, causing at least six fires in Israeli settlements.
Incendiary kites and balloons have been launched into Israeli communities bordering the Gaza Strip since the outbreak of the Great March of Return protests, launched on March 30 at the Gaza border to call for Palestinians’ right of return to their motherland.
Kites and balloons flown from Gaza led to the destruction of large areas of agricultural fields along with agricultural equipment over the past months.
According to 0404 Hebrew website, balloons flown from Gaza have caused 17 fires in Israeli locations near the border since the morning.
The flaming kites were flown in response to the Israeli decision on Sunday afternoon to end the issue of Gaza balloons by “military reaction”.
Incendiary kites and balloons have been launched into Israeli communities bordering the Gaza Strip since the outbreak of the Great March of Return protests, launched on March 30 at the Gaza border to call for Palestinians’ right of return to their motherland.
Firefighters battle 6 fires sparked by flaming balloons on Gaza border
Israeli firefighters were dispatched on Sunday morning to the Gaza border area allegedly after flaming balloons were sent soaring over the border, causing at least six fires in Israeli settlements.
Incendiary kites and balloons have been launched into Israeli communities bordering the Gaza Strip since the outbreak of the Great March of Return protests, launched on March 30 at the Gaza border to call for Palestinians’ right of return to their motherland.
Kites and balloons flown from Gaza led to the destruction of large areas of agricultural fields along with agricultural equipment over the past months.
An Israeli drone on Sunday afternoon fired at least one missile at a group of Palestinian citizens near the Great March of Return camps in northern Gaza.
The PIC reporter said that a Palestinian youth was injured and transferred to the hospital for treatment.
The attack came a few hours after a ceasefire agreement was reached following a long day of clashes between the Israeli occupation army and Palestinian resistance.
The Israeli army on Saturday killed two children and injured dozens of civilians in a series of airstrikes on different Gaza targets, including a public park.
The PIC reporter said that a Palestinian youth was injured and transferred to the hospital for treatment.
The attack came a few hours after a ceasefire agreement was reached following a long day of clashes between the Israeli occupation army and Palestinian resistance.
The Israeli army on Saturday killed two children and injured dozens of civilians in a series of airstrikes on different Gaza targets, including a public park.
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