WarSclerotic

Declare Hamas a terrorist group — Prosor to UN

Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Ron Prosor, calls on the international body to recognize Hamas as a terrorist organization and to stop giving it a “free hand.”

Prosor urges the UN to take a number of immediate steps in response to the kidnapping this morning of an IDF officer in the southern Gaza Strip: condemn Hamas for kidnapping an Israeli soldier, breaking a temporary truce and denying humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, demand the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip and declare Hamas a terrorist organization.

He adds that the kidnapping proves Hamas is committed more to killing and kidnapping Israelis than to the welfare of the Palestinian people.

Remarking that Gazan terrorists have fired 3,073 rockets at Israel in the past month alone, Prosor asks how much more proof the UN needs that Hamas is a terrorist organization before declaring it as such.

Canada condemns ‘disgraceful, repugnant’ abduction of IDF soldier

Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird condemns Hamas for violating another ceasefire and blasts the terror group for the abduction of 2nd-Lt. Hadar Goldin this morning.

“Canada is appalled that Hamas, only hours into the ceasefire, has yet again blatantly violated this agreement. The abduction by Hamas of an Israeli soldier is a disgraceful and repugnant act and once again shows Hamas’s complete disregard for peace and the well-being of the Palestinian people,” he says in a statement

“Hamas has lost all credibility, and we must continue to work to isolate this terrorist organization that values death over peace,” he says.

UN chief demands immediate release of captured soldier

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon demands that the Israeli soldier captured in Gaza be released immediately and condemned “in the strongest terms the reported violation” by Hamas of the ceasefire.

“The Secretary-General demands the immediate and unconditional release of the captured soldier,” says a statement from his spokesman.

Support Israeli efforts to free Goldin — ADL

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) calls on the international community to demand the “unconditional safe and immediate return” of kidnapped IDF soldier 2nd Lt. Hadar Goldin and support Israel’s efforts to free him, adding that Israel has “no choice but to respond to this blatant act of aggression” by Hamas.

Blasting the Islamist terrorist organization’s “morally bankrupt indifference to human life,” ADL head Abraham Foxman calls on world leaders to “unequivocally condemn” the kidnapping, which was carried out by exploiting a 72-hour ceasefire “to conduct a suicide attack on Israelis and kidnap a 23-year-old.”

Foxman adds, “Yet again, Hamas’ resort to violence raises serious questions about the trustworthiness of any commitments the terror group makes to facilitate an end to the hostilities and demonstrates the need for disarming Hamas and meaningful international supervision in Gaza.”

Sirens sound in communities bordering Gaza

Senate approves extra funding for Iron Dome

In a session that continued to extend beyond the Thursday date for Congressional recess, the Senate gave unanimous consent to advance emergency legislation to provide Israel with an additional $225 million in funding for the Iron Dome missile defense system.

Although Senators failed to reach an agreement on the additional budget late Thursday night, the Senate convened Friday morning to try again.

“This is a good example of us putting aside partisan considerations,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said after his party worked with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) to pass the funding.

The bill will now go to the House, which has delayed its recess until it passes key immigration legislation.

The Republican-controlled House is likely to pass the Senate bill in the coming days or even hours.

– Rebecca Shimoni Stoil

Kerry calls for immediate, unconditional release of captured IDF soldier

Secretary of State John Kerry is condemning an “outrageous” violation by Palestinian militants of the Gaza ceasefire he helped to broker. Kerry is demanding the immediate release of an Israeli soldier apparently abducted by the radical Hamas movement.

Kerry released a statement saying the militant attack was an affront to the assurances that both sides had given to the United Nations about respecting the ceasefire. The US secretary of state is demanding that Hamas move to “immediately and unconditionally release” 2nd-Lt. Hadar Goldin, captured in an attack that also killed two Israeli soldiers.

Kerry also calls on “those with influence over Hamas to reinforce this message.”

Kerry says he has spoken with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the developments, which led Israel to declare the ceasefire over. Kerry says it would be a “tragedy” if the attack led to more violence and suffering.

“The international community must now redouble its efforts to end the tunnel and rocket attacks by Hamas terrorists on Israel and the suffering and loss of civilian life,” Kerry says.

– AP, Times of Israel staff

EU ‘regrets’ ceasefire breakdown, makes no mention of captured soldier

The Delegation of the European Union to the State of Israel releases a statement lamenting the breakdown of the 72-hour ceasefire that went into effect for mere hours this morning, but makes no mention of the attack by Hamas gunmen near Rafah less than two hours into the truce that killed two soldiers and led to the capture of 2nd-Lt. Hadar Goldin.

“We deeply regret that the announced 72-hour humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip has already been breached. It is paramount that all parties comply with the terms of the truce, and we call on all parties to uphold the commitments made earlier with a view to achieving a durable ceasefire to end the current tragic situation,” the delegation says in a statement released to the press.