Live Blog
Fire in Gaza, as Israel grapples with homegrown killers | The Times of Israel.
Hamas says it will hit Tel Aviv
Hamas vows to expand the range of its rocket attacks to central Israel, specifically Tel Aviv, Channel 10 reports, adding that Egypt is no longer acting as a mediator between Hamas and Israel to broker a ceasefire agreement.
Iron Dome batteries are deployed to areas further north, Channel 2 reports, as residents within the 40 km (24 mile) range from the Gaza Strip continue to be advised to remain 15 seconds away from a shelter.
Two people are lightly injured after hurting themselves while running to shelter.
Ch 2 reporting that Israel is following a “graduated response” policy. Tonight a bit more. Tomorrow again.
( This is not MY Israel ! – JW )
US condemns rocket fire from Gaza
State Department Spokeswoman Jen Psaki denounces the volley of fire from the Gaza Strip and maintains that Israel reserves the right to defend its citizens.
IAF attacking Gaza as rocket volleys continue. Over a hundred so far tonight.
Ashkelon mayor: ‘The time has come to deal with terror’
Itamar Shimoni, the mayor of Ashkelon, urges the Israeli government to deal with the rocket threat from the Gaza Strip once and for all.
“We are very resilient. And we have patience. Our residents have been told what to do. The time has come to deal determinedly with terror [from Gaza]. If we have to sit for a month in bomb shelters, that’s what we’ll do. But let’s see uncompromising activity [against Gaza terror],” he says.
Some 60 rockets have been fired at Israel in the past hour. There is Israeli air activity in southern Israel, Channel 2 reports.
7 treated for shock in south
Seven residents in southern Israel are being treated for shock, following the rocket barrage from the Gaza Strip, Channel 2 reports.
Hamas takes credit for latest rocket salvo
The military wing of Hamas says it was responsible for the dozens of rockets fired at Israel around 8 p.m., according to the Ynet news website.
IDF says Gaza escalation will be gradual
There will be a gradual escalation against Gaza targets, especially against tunnels on the Gaza-Israel border, a senior IDF source says at a briefing Monday evening.
He also notes that the Islamic Jihad is not known to be involved in the rocket fire.
Ashdod woman lightly hurt by rocket shrapnel
A resident of Ashdod suffers light injuries after being hit by shrapnel from a rocket which was launched from the Gaza Strip.
A medical team provides the wounded woman emergency treatment at the scene, Channel 2 reports.
‘All options are on the table,’ Bennett says
Economy Minister Naftali Bennett insists that with regard to an IDF operation in the Gaza Strip, “all options are on the table.”
In an interview with Channel 2, Bennett says: “We need to broadcast to Hamas a message of deterrence.” The head of the right-wing Jewish Home political party says Israel must strike hard or risk looking weak.
It appears that the war has begun. All hell breaking loose from every direction. God protect us…
Iron Dome intercepts rockets in south Israel
The Iron Dome intercepts four rockets over Netivot, the IDF says in a statement.
Channel 2 reports that three projectiles were shot down by the Iron Dome over Ashdod, as Hamas increases the range of its rockets to 40 km (24 miles) from the Gaza Strip.
Sirens sound in Jerusalem, central Israel
Red alert sirens are heard in central Israel, the Jerusalem area, and parts of the Gush Etzion bloc, including Efrat and Tekoa.
Channel 2 reports that the sirens are a false alarm and that rockets were not fired toward those areas.
Fatah FB status tells Israel to prepare body bags
A Facebook status posted on an official Fatah profile warns Israel to ready its body bags ahead of an escalation, according to a translation from Palestinian Media Watch.
“Sons of Zion, this is an oath to the Lord of the Heavens: Prepare all the bags you can for your body parts,” a status on the Facebook page, posted today, reads.
A status from two days ago warns that “sons of Fatah will turn your settlements into balls of fire and increase your horror,” according to PMW.
Rocket barrage fired at southern Israel
Some 30 rockets are fired from the Gaza Strip. No injuries or damage are reported.
Residents in southern Israel are asked to stay in their shelters until further notice.
Rachelle Fraenkel condemns murder of Abu Khdeir
Rachelle Fraenkel — the mother of the slain Naftali Fraenkel — strongly denounces the killing of the 16-year-old Muhammed Abu Khdeir, and offers condolences to the grieving family.
In a public statement given outside the Fraenkels’ Nof Ayalon home, Fraenkel says: “No mother or father should ever have to go through what we are going through, and we share the pain of Muhammed’s parents.”
“Even in the abyss of mourning for Gil-ad, Eyal and Naftali, it is difficult for me to describe how distressed we are by the outrage committed in Jerusalem – the shedding of innocent blood in defiance of all morality, of the Torah, of the foundation of the lives of our boys and of all of us in this country,” she says.
“Only the murderers of our sons, along with those who sent them and those who helped them and incited them to murder – and not innocent people – will be brought to justice: by the army, the police, and the judiciary; not by vigilantes.”
Fraenkel adds that despite “the pain of this terrible act, we take pride in our country’s zeal to investigate, to arrest the criminals and to stop the horror, and we hope that calm will return to the streets of our country.”
The bereaved mother emphasizes that the legacy of the three slain teenagers “is one of love, of humanity, of national unity, and of integrity.”
20:30
20+ Rocket volleys fired from Gaza over the last hour
Home Front: No gatherings of over 500 people in south
The Home Front Command issues directives to residents within 40 kilometers (24 miles) of the Gaza Strip, strongly discouraging gatherings of over 500 people and instructing summer camps to run as usual only if shelters are within seconds reach.
Cities within range include Sderot, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Beersheba and many smaller towns.
‘Rockets may be fired at central Israel tonight’
In the cabinet meeting this afternoon, ministers expressed the assessment that Hamas may expand its range and target cities in the Gush Dan area in central Israel as soon as tonight, the NRG news website reports.
Southern residents told to stay near shelters
Residents of the Shaar HaNegev, Eshkol, and Hof Ashkelon regional councils in southern Israel are instructed to stay within 15 seconds of shelters, as red alert sirens continuously sound.
Two rockets fall in open areas in southern Israel. No injuries or damage are reported by the Walla news site.
Beit Shemesh mayor holds meeting on Arab teen murder
The mayor of Beit Shemesh holds an emergency meeting to discuss the murder of 16-year-old Muhammed Abu Khdeir, which was suspected to have been carried out by a resident or residents of his city, as well as residents of Jerusalem and the settlement of Adam.
Moshe Abutbul condemns the murder and says he had been briefed on its details by police.
Acre protesters: We will continue the resistance
Some 200 people are demonstrating in Acre against the murder of Abu Khdeir, 16, the Ynet news site reports. The protesters have blocked the main road in the Old City.
“Rest in peace Abu Khdeir, we will continue the resistance. With stones we will defend our lands and our homes; the police won’t deter us,” they cry.
Suspects in Arab teen killing issued psychiatric exam
Several of the six suspects in the killing of Palestinian teenager Muhammed Abu Khdeir were issued a psychiatric evaluation by police investigators.
The suspects are expected to face charges of belonging to a terrorist organization, murder of a minor, kidnapping with the intent of murder or extortion, conspiracy, purchasing weapons or ammunition parts, and racially motivated crimes, police say.
Abu Khdeir: No proof killers of Israeli teens aren’t Jews
Hussein Abu Khdeir says there’s no evidence that the murderers of Gil-ad Shaar, 16, Naftali Fraenkel, 16, and Eyal Yifrach, 19, were not Jews.
In a conversation with the grandfather of Gil-ad Shaar on Channel 2, the father of the slain East Jerusalem teenager says while suspects are being held for burning his son alive — a murder for which he says there is no precedent except for in Israel — it remains unknown who is behind the murder of the three Israeli teenagers.
Shaar’s grandfather, visibly perturbed, interrupts to stress that the three were definitely murdered by terrorists.
“Bring me someone who said they killed them,” Abu Khdeir replies.
7 Hamas men killed in terror tunnel overnight
IDF Spokesman Peter Lerner says seven Hamas operatives were killed in a terror tunnel near Rafah overnight that had been bombed by the Israel Air Force a few days earlier, after the seven entered the tunnel and meddled with their own explosives which had been stashed there.
The operatives “were in a tunnel with special infrastructure and strength and designated for a significant attack against soldiers.” He says the airstrike was carried out a few days ago “and last night the Hamas members touched the explosives — which is what caused the tunnel to explode. This was a significant tunnel that was a top priority [for the IDF].”
Lerner adds that on account of the deaths “we understand that there is a potential of escalation.”
If last week the IDF wished to convey a message of a defensive deployment, Lerner says, today there is “a preparedness for escalation.”
IDF gears up for escalation; 1,500 troops called up
After the cabinet meeting, the IDF is instructed to increase its strikes against the Gaza Strip in efforts to halt the rocket fire emanating from the coastal enclave.
Some 1,500 reserve soldiers — primarily Home Front Command troops and those trained to operate the Iron Dome anti-missile batteries — are called up to the southern border.
An IDF official says: “Quiet was not met with quiet, and therefore we are preparing for an escalation.”
IDF blows up terror tunnel, killing 7 Hamas men
An IDF official says seven Hamas operatives were killed in a terror tunnel overnight, in what he says was a targeted IDF operation to thwart future attacks against Israeli soldiers.
The operatives “were in a tunnel with special infrastructure and strength and designated for a significant attack against soldiers.” He says a few days ago an operation was carried out “and last night the Hamas members touched the explosives — which is what caused the tunnel to explode. This was a significant tunnel that was a top priority [for the IDF],” he says.
IDF gears up for escalation; 1,500 troops called up
After the cabinet meeting, the IDF is instructed to increase its strikes against the Gaza Strip in efforts to halt the rocket fire emanating from the coastal enclave.
Some 1,500 reserve soldiers — primarily Home Front Command troops and those trained to operate the Iron Dome anti-missile batteries — are called up to the southern border.
An IDF official says: “Quiet was not met with quiet, and therefore we are preparing for an escalation.”
WarSclerotic 
July 7, 2014 at 3:18 PM
Been sitting on the sideline for a while. Fourth of July and all. The biggest being the ‘youth war’ now playing out in the great state of Israel. So sad. I certainly hope justice is served and this is the end to this sordid ordeal.
Unfortunately, this could escalate and war could come a knocking to King David’s door. But to what avail? Will anyone answer? If so, what will be the response?
I fear, not much. You see, ‘we’ have become much too civilized for war. The signs abound…limited engagement, rules of engagement, collateral damage, precision strikes, etc. etc. ad nauseum. As a result, we see ‘soft’ victories, nation building, and financial aid to the recovering ‘loser’.
Then the whole thing breaks down and we’re faced with doing the deed all over again. Any moron (me included) can see it. Unfortunately, governments cannot. They’re just too civilized and so are we..
If we’re going to war, then dammit, go to war. Destroy the enemy’s will and means to fight. This means civilian casualties and lots of them. After all, who feeds and supports the soldiers fighting us.
Then when the fight’s done, to the victor go the spoils. Not the other war around.
Bottom line, we’ve got to find the savagery inside us and meet the enemy head on in all their savagery they gleefully impose upon us.
Am I oversimplifying, yes. But you get my point. We’re just too damned civilized to see it.
July 7, 2014 at 4:28 PM
It is not savagery to defend yourself again barbaric terrorist just common sense, a mark of the civilized one !
July 7, 2014 at 5:00 PM
Agreed, but one has to find the savagery in one’s self in order to truly win a war, the one thing that cleared the way for our civilized lives.
“David killed twenty-two thousand of the Syrians. Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became David’s servants, and brought tribute. The Lord preserved David wherever he went.”
July 7, 2014 at 5:22 PM
True
July 7, 2014 at 9:04 PM
When the dogs of war are unleashed I hope they go north as well as south. Let’s get it done.
July 7, 2014 at 9:28 PM
“Now remember, when things look bad and it looks like you’re not gonna make it, then you gotta get mean. I mean plumb, mad-dog mean. ‘Cause if you lose your head and you give up then you neither live nor win. That’s just the way it is.”
July 7, 2014 at 9:51 PM
A 100% agree, never give up, there is no alternative !