Gaza Flares - (May 2019) Live Updates

[TomSea]

Two rockets fired into Israel from Gaza; Israeli aircraft strike Hamas targets
By Jacob Magid and Judah Ari Gross

Palestinian terrorists in the Gaza Strip launched at least two rockets into Israel early Thursday, the IDF said. Witnesses said the projectiles fell in an open area and no injuries were reported.

The rocket fire came hours after Israeli aircraft bombed a Hamas base in the northern Gaza Strip in retaliation for a wave of fire balloons that were launched into Israel from the Strip.

After warning sirens sounded in the Sha’ar Hanegev region, the IDF said it had identified at least two launches into Israel. A spokesperson for the Sha’ar Hanegev Regional council said the rockets apparently landed in open fields and caused no injuries.

Continued at: https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-aircraft-said-to-strike-targets-in-gaza-after-wave-of-fire-balloons/?utm_source=israeli-aircraft-said-to-strike-targets-in-gaza-after-wave-of-fire-balloons&utm_medium=desktop-browser&utm_campaign=desktop-notifications

[TomSea]

Building was evacuated one report said.

Liveuamap MiddleEast
‏ @lummideast

Moments after Israeli Air Force F-16's attacked and destroyed a building in which the Turkish Anadolu News Agency was located

https://twitter.com/lummideast/status/1124727273343606786

More than normal is happening right now. That would be some story if the Turkish news agency, Anadolu was hit.  That building has Hamas in it per Jerusalem Post tiwitter.

https://twitter.com/Jerusalem_Post

Over 100 rockets were launched from Gaza is what I can tell, last night.. No wonder they are always bombing arsenals in Syria. It's these kinds of weapons.

Lots of coverage on this, I think some Israeli houses were hit but I'm not hearing there were injuries.

Iron Dome blocked a whole lot of rockets numbered to be from 90-150.

[TomSea]

This first video:

News flash
‏ @BRNewsFlash

#BREAKING
WATCH THIS SHOCKING VIDEO:
a rocket fired from #Gaza explodes 50 feet in front of a bus full of IAF soldiers..
Video via @david_shapira

https://twitter.com/BRNewsFlash/status/1125017663976148992

The count of missiles fired now, is around 300.... which means they are going off everywhere in a nation that I believe is about the size of New Jersey.  Times of Israel: 3 Israelis have been killed and ditto, I believe 3 Palestinians may have been killed. It's no wonder, Israel,  repeating myself, has gone on those multiple bombing missions in Syria of almost always, alleged weapons depots, what Hamas and other terrorists fire at Israel must come from somewhere. That somewhere must be Iran and those weapons traverse through Syria. Now, I'd say we are seeing some of the reality of the situation.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Analysis  //  Gaza Flare-up Imperils Netanyahu’s Cynical Policy of Cohabitation With Hamas
The prime minister’s 'contain, maintain and complain’ approach is meant to undercut Palestinian statehood, even at the expense of Israeli security
Haaretz, May 5, 2019

[...]

The claim that Netanyahu prefers Hamas, despite its exclusively terrorist modus operandi, to the PA, despite its successful security collaboration with Israel in the West Bank, surfaced over the past few years in press commentary and in attacks by the opposition. After the elections, however, Likud politicians are openly touting it as Netanyahu’s brilliant strategy to avoid Palestinian statehood and to entrench Israel’s hold on its biblical homeland.

[...]

Netanyahu, for his part, steadfastly rebuffed the Obama administration’s efforts to gradually reinstall the PA in Gaza, as well as similar proposals made by mediator Egypt and Israel’s new strategic ally in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia. At the same time, Israel did its best to scuttle any unity deal between Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas leaders in Gaza, saying that such an alliance with known terrorists would prohibit any future peace talks with the Palestinian Authority. In this way, Netanyahu believed, he could eat his cake and have it as well.

Throughout his decade in power, Netanyahu has pursued a “contain, maintain and complain” policy that suited his ideological purposes perfectly. He has tried to deter Hamas attacks with Israel’s superior military force and a strict blockade of Gaza, concurrently doing his best to avert the terrorist group’s total collapse, all the while continuing to denounce Hamas and to pledge its destruction. His strategy kept Hamas in constant survival mode, weakened Abbas’ claim to represent the entire Palestinian people and gave Israel excellent talking points about the lack of Palestinian partners.

The split between Hamas in Gaza and Fatah in the West Bank underpinned Netanyahu’s efforts to dissuade U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration from supporting a two-state solution. Best of all, as the recent election proved, the Israeli public did not hold Netanyahu to account either for his cynical ploy or for the price paid for it by residents of kibbutzim, moshavim and development towns adjacent to Gaza.

Netanyahu prefers a terrorist Hamas in Gaza that has no interest in a two-state solution over a Fatah or united Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) regime that would collaborate with Israel on security matters but continue to demand full statehood in the pre-1967 borders. The last thing Netanyahu needs, especially on the eve of the presentation of Trump’s peace plan, is a collapse of Hamas that would pit either the Israel Defense Forces or the PA as its only possible replacement.


More:  https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-gaza-flare-up-imperils-netanyahu-s-cynical-policy-of-cohabitation-with-hamas-1.7206683

[Gefn]

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[TomSea]

This is pretty important if one keeps up with the headlines:

Israel Defense Forces
‏Verified account @IDF

Yesterday, Palestinian weapons caused the tragic death of a mother in Gaza and her baby. Hamas blamed Israel. Journalists amplified the lie. Our assessment indicates that the incident had nothing to do with IDF strikes.
4:38 AM - 5 May 2019

https://twitter.com/IDF/status/1125001868667760641

Noah Pollak
‏ @NoahPollak

Noah Pollak Retweeted Joe

This is false -- the baby was killed by a Palestinian rocket that fell short. Once again western reporters (this one is from AFP) are embarrassing themselves and their profession by repeating the claims of Hamas officials. It's so amazingly dumb but they never learn.

https://twitter.com/NoahPollak/status/1125069475051556864

The headlines this morning have been screaming in a number of places "baby killed", sounding the worse.

Other news...

972 magazine, the counter-view and voice over there, written by Israelis, Palestinians and others.
https://twitter.com/972mag
https://972mag.com/sliver-hope/141298/

[TomSea]

Amidror: Iran behind the Gaza escalation
“Why did the Islamic Jihad do this?” former national security adviser asks. “The answer is again and again and again - Iran.”
By Herb Keinon
May 5, 2019 17:41

Iran, through Islamic Jihad - its proxy in Gaza - is behind the current escalation in the South, former national security advisor Yaakov Amidror said on Sunday.

Amidror, in a conversation with The Israel Project, traced the current round of massive rocket fire on Israel to Friday, when AN Islamic Jihad SNIPER fired on Israeli soldiers patrolling the Gaza border, wounding two officers. Israel responded and killed two Hamas men, and then the rocket barrage began from Gaza.

Read more at: https://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Amidror-Iran-behind-the-Gaza-escalation-588796

[TomSea]

Ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Gaza officials -report
https://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Ceasefire-agreement-reached-between-Israel-and-Gaza-officials-report-588913

U.S. deploying carrier, bombers to Middle East in warning to Iran -Bolton
By REUTERS
May 6, 2019 04:27
https://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/US-deploying-carrier-bombers-to-Middle-East-in-warning-to-Iran-Bolton-588911

See, they were working on a ceasefire agreement before things broke down about yesterday with all of the missiles being fired.

We will see what is next!?

[Right_in_Virginia]

Palestinian report claims ceasefire reached, no Israeli confirmation
Jerusalem Post, May 6, 2019 06:37

Hamas and Islamic Jihad announced on Monday morning that a ceasefire has been reached with Israel. The ceasefire goes into effect at 4:30 am, the groups said.

Israel did not immediately comment on the announcement.

Hamas said that that "the past few hours saw intensive diplomatic efforts" to achieve a ceasefire agreement. The United Nations, Qatar and Egypt took part in the efforts, Hamas added.

Abu Mujahed, spokesman for the Palestinian Resistance Committees, a coalition of various terror groups in the Gaza Strip, confirmed that the ceasefire went into effect at 4:30 am Monday. "The ceasefire agreement was reached on condition that the occupation implements the previous understandings to lift the blockade on the Gaza Strip," he said.

Hamas-affiliated Al-Aqsa TV confirmed the ceasefire report. A senior Islamic Jihad official in the Gaza Strip also confirmed that a ceasefire has been reached to end the fighting in the Gaza Strip. The agreement, he said, requires Israel to implement the last Egyptian-brokered ceasefire understandings with the Gaza-based groups.

https://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Ceasefire-agreement-reached-between-Israel-and-Gaza-officials-report-588913

‭‮

[Right_in_Virginia]

Trump to Palestinians in Gaza: 'End the violence and work towards peace'
The Hill, May 5, 2019

President Trump sounded off on the most recent violence between Israeli and the Palestinians, putting the onus on Palestinians to “END the violence and work towards peace" in a Sunday night tweet.

“Once again, Israel faces a barrage of deadly rocket attacks by terrorist groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad. We support Israel 100% in its defense of its citizens,” Trump tweeted Sunday. “To the Gazan people — these terrorist acts against Israel will bring you nothing but more misery. END the violence and work towards peace - it can happen!”

https://thehill.com/policy/international/middle-east-north-africa/442228-trump-to-palestinians-in-gaza-end-the-violence

 

[Right_in_Virginia]

Netanyahu:  'The battle isn't over'
Israel National News, May 6, 2019

Israeli forces struck a ‘powerful’ blow against the Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorist organizations in Gaza over the weekend, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said Monday morning, as he spoke out on the Egyptian-brokered ceasefire agreement with Hamas.

“Over the past two days, we struck a powerful blow against Hamas and Islamic Jihad,” said Netanyahu. “We hit more than 350 targets, we hit terrorist leaders and officials and destroyed ‘terrorist towers’.”

Netanyahu added that despite the ceasefire, the battle against Hamas was not over.

“The campaign isn’t finished, and it will require patience and careful judgment. We’re prepared for its continuation.”

“The goal was and remains to secure quiet and bring security to the residents of the south. I send my condolences to the bereaved families and I wish the injured a speedy recovery.”

A ceasefire agreement brokered by Egypt went into effect at 4:30 Monday morning, following two days of rocket attacks by Gaza-based terrorists and Israeli retaliatory strikes inside Gaza.


http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/262759 

“The goal was and remains to secure quiet ....

Do you laugh or cry at this point?   

[TomSea]

Setting topic "non-sticky".... it can always be changed. We may have a story with either Iran or NK. We will see. The Newt China thread could go the same way but I kind of think, that's an important thread, we will see.