LIVE UPDATES: Netanyahu orders IDF to prepare for Gaza ground offensive

[Jefferson23]

5 Palestinians reportedly killed in IDF strikes on Gaza; Rocket fire on Israel's south continues.
By Haaretz | Jul. 8, 2014 |

Israel launched a series of airstrikes on Gaza militants early on Tuesday, dubbing the offensive "Operation Protective Edge." More than 50 targets were hit in the offensive.

Meanwhile, rocket fire on Israel's south continued. According to the IDF, eight projectiles were launched between 2 and 6 A.M.

Militants in Gaza fired more than 85 rockets toward Israel on Monday evening, with Hamas openly claiming responsibility for some of the launches for the first time since the current round of fighting began. The rockets hit several major cities in the south and, also for the first time in the current fighting, caused alarms to go off in central Israel and Jerusalem. The barrages lightly wounded two Israelis and caused property damage.

The Israel Defense Forces called up 1,500 infantry and Border Police reservists in preparation for further escalation, after the security cabinet decided on Monday afternoon to intensify attacks against Hamas and other terrorist groups in the Gaza Strip. A senior official said the ministers want to refrain from a large-scale military operation for now, but they instructed the army to prepare for significant expansion of its current operations.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.603677

[Jefferson23]

1. Gaza’s armed factions coordinate response to Israeli attacks

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — The situation in the Gaza Strip has escalated dangerously, raising concerns that another major conflict is imminent. Eight Palestinians were killed, six of them from Hamas' military wing the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, and 10 were wounded following a series of strikes by Israeli warplanes over different locations in Gaza late on July 7 and in the early morning of July 8.

During the past few days, news has circulated about indirect communication between Cairo and Hamas to set up a cease-fire agreement in Gaza with Israel. A Hamas official confirmed to Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that there has been no Egyptian brokerage for the truce and that “Egypt has distanced itself this time.”

In previous statements, Hamas leaders had set the lifting of the blockade in Gaza as a condition for any truce. However, this has yet to materialize.

“We agreed with the factions during a meeting held two days ago not to launch missiles, but 20 missiles are launched every day. Therefore, it seems that some parties have breached the agreement,” the Hamas official said.

“These missiles undoubtedly provoke a crisis, but Israel knows that Hamas is the side that controls things. After the murder of Palestinian teenager Mohammed Abu Khdeir, who was burned alive by settlers, the pressure has increased. So we are disregarding these missiles,” he confirmed, adding, “Hamas can face the war militarily as an organization, and it has capacities. It has developed its defense forces and missiles more than before. There won’t be a war, but there aren’t any initiatives to solve this escalation soon.”

Read more: http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2014/07/gaza-armed-factions-coordinate-response-israel-attacks.html#ixzz36sR49PBa

[Jefferson23]

2. snip*

Abbas demanded Israel immediately stop its escalation and the raids on Gaza," said a statement from his office published shortly after midnight by the official WAFA news agency.

Netanyahu ordered the military to "take off the gloves" in its confrontation with Hamas and said "Hamas chose escalation and it will pay a heavy price for it."

Senior political sources close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he has ordered the defense establishment to conduct a "continuous, long and forceful operation in Gaza."

According to the source, Netanyahu told the IDF to go "all the way," saying "evening a ground operation was currently on the table." According to them, such an operation was far from certain, but that the operation's goal was to increase deterrence and deal Hamas a significant blow.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4539668,00.html

[Jefferson23]

3. IDF chief Gantz asks for call-up of 40,000 reserves amid Operation Protective Edge

Gantz requests call-up in order to replace conscripted forces in the West Bank, and enable their deployment to the Gaza border; some 100 targets in Gaza have been struck by the IAF on Tuesday.

http://www.jpost.com/Operation-Protective-Edge/IDF-chief-Gantz-asks-for-call-up-of-40000-reserves-amid-Operation-Protective-Edge-361953

[Scootaloo]

4. This is gonna sound weird...

But if hte goal is actually, for real to disempower Hamas, Islamic Jihad, etc... ground forces is th only way to accomplish this.

Any assault is a stupid waste of lives, i maintain. But if israel is serious about its goals, well... this method is the only way to achieve them.

[Jefferson23]

5. For me, it goes way back to the crime they are suppose to be charged with..kidnapping

and the deaths of three teens. What happened to that evidence?

I mean, I know what Bibi is up to, but nevertheless, this should be a fundamental question he should
be able to answer.

[Scootaloo]

6. There was evidence? n/t

[Jefferson23]

7. Netanyahu claimed they "knew". I should find the quote and post it, but yea that is what

he eluded to.

[Scootaloo]

8. Well, if that doesn't just ring of truthiness. n/t

[Jefferson23]

9. Here, from June 22

snip*Israel has “unequivocal proof that this is Hamas,” Netanyahu said ahead of the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem. “We are sharing this proof and information to this effect with several countries. Soon this information will be made public.”

http://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-hard-evidence-hamas-behind-kidnappings/

[Scootaloo]

10. Soon, huh?

Yeeeeaaaaaah.

[Jefferson23]

11. lol

[Scootaloo]

12. Wrong end of the equine for a discussion about Netanyahoo, though n/t

[Jefferson23]

14. Yes..goes without sayin. n/t

[King_David]

13. I don't get that,

The horse is waiting for the kids to disappear so he can get out, so it is soon ?

[bemildred]

15. IAF destroys homes of all Hamas commanders, kills senior members

In recent air strikes on Gaza, all of the homes of Hamas brigade commanders have been destroyed, Israel Radio reported early on Wednesday.

According to a report by the Palestinian news agency Ma'an, one of the homes targeted was that of senior Islamic Jihad terrorist Hafiz Mohammed Hamad. In the strike early on Tuesday, Hamad and five of his family members were reportedly killed.

In a separate incident, a joint IDF-Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) operation struck a vehicle containing a commander of Hamas's naval commando unit, Muhammad Sa'aban, aged 24, on Tuesday.

Palestinian media reported that four Hamas people in total were killed in the targeted strike on the vehicle.

http://www.jpost.com/Operation-Protective-Edge/IAF-targets-Hamas-naval-commander-Palestinians-say-4-killed-in-strike-361947

[bemildred]

16. Israel Strikes Gaza by Air, Sea to Halt Rocket Attacks

Palestinian rockets reached the skies over Tel Aviv and Jerusalem as Israeli war planes pounded the Gaza Strip, with troops and tanks positioned outside the Hamas-controlled territory for a possible ground invasion.

The missiles aimed at Israel’s biggest cities yesterday were among some 160 rockets fired from Gaza, prompting air raid sirens across the country while causing little damage. Most fell in open fields or were shot down by Israel’s “Iron Dome” defense system, police said.

Israel struck more than 150 targets in Gaza, killing 23 Palestinians, while cabinet ministers authorized the call-up of 40,000 reservists. Palestinian leaders appealed to the United Nations and Egypt for help in arranging a cease-fire.

The Israeli military operation “threatens to further destabilize the dangerous situation on the ground and fully ignite yet another round of deadly violence,” Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour wrote in letters to the heads of the UN Security Council and General Assembly.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-07-08/israel-strikes-gaza-by-air-sea-to-halt-rocket-attacks.html

[Jefferson23]

17. Madness....full blown. n/t