Israel Under Fire: Operation 'Protective Edge'

[Pretty Flamingo]

Originally Posted by Pretty Flamingo

I am not sure how ISIS could. How do you think they would?

Better the devil you know (Hamas), than any other entity. Hamas is well-known to Israel so it knows the enemy. Although of course things can change. Hamas is getting really desperate and is calling Egypt to broker a ceasefire as over a couple of hundred Hamas target areas have been eliminated.

I hope Israeli troops don't have to go into Gaza, but seeing as a lot of targets cannot be taken out by air-strikes, then it may be inevitable. Israel has to do as much as possible in a short space of time before a ceasefire is called.

ISIS Spokesman Explains Why 'Islamic State' Not Supporting Hamas

Spokesman for radical jihadi group says the time is not right for a confrontation with Israel.
By Dalit Halevi and Ari Soffer
First Publish: 7/10/2014, 4:42 PM

The Islamic State, or ISIS, has responded to critics who have questioned why its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is not actively supporting Hamas in fighting Israel.

After capturing vast swathes of Iraq and Syria, ISIS declared the regions under its control as a "Caliphate", or Islamic state, and appointed Baghdadi as "leader of the Muslims". While many jihadists celebrated the announcement, others - including Al Qaeda, which ISIS broke off from last year - have criticized the move for a variety of reasons.

Since the recent escalation between Israel and Islamist terrorists in Gaza, some of those critics have questioned why a self-declared "Caliphate" is not rushing to the aid of Muslims in the Hamas-controlled territory.

In a statement a spokesperson for the group, Nidal Nuseiri reaffirmed that conquering "Bayt el-Maqdis" (Jerusalem) and destroying the State of Israel is central to the group's "jihad", or holy war.

However, he pointed out that ISIS has been taking a systematic approach in its campaign, and outlined six specific stages it said needed to be fulfilled before taking on Israel.

Some of those "stages" - building a firm base for an Islamic state in Iraq, and using it as a springboard to wage war in Syria and Lebanon - have already been achieved. But he said a number of other criteria still needed to be fulfilled before challenging Israel directly.

Among them, Nuseiri said that the US - seen as Israel's greatest ally - needed to be weakened politically and economically via attacks on the American mainland, as well as US interests in Muslim countries. Additionally, the existing "Islamic State" needed to expand its borders to cover all of "Greater Syria" (which would include Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jorislamdan and possibly Gaza); such a state, he said, would then be in a position for a direct confrontation with Israel.

ISIS Explains Why 'Islamic State' Not Helping Gaza - Middle East - News - Arutz Sheva

[Pretty Flamingo]

If it weren't for Hamas using human shields on and around buildings which Israel wants to target in Gaza, this war would be over far quicker.

[Pretty Flamingo]

After Mauling Hamas From the Air, IDF to 'Deepen the Damage'

Eight hundred terror targets hit in Operation Protective Edge, 60 of them thus far in Day 3 of the campaign.
By Gil Ronen
First Publish: 7/10/2014, 5:33 PM

The IDF Spokesman's Unit said Thursday that the IDF has struck about 60 terror targets in Gaza since the morning hours, on Day 3 of Operation Protective Edge, and that it intends to "deepen the damage" to Hamas.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQ5bAgTZLtQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQ5bAgTZLtQ

All in all, about 800 terror targets have been hit since the operation began on Monday night.

Among the targets attacked were leadership offices, homes of senior Hamas officers, tunnels, buried launchers, communication infrastructure, military outposts and weapons stores.

The IDF Navy attacked several coastal targets. These attacks included the firing of dozens of shells by the Missile Ship Reconnaissance Unit at Hamas weapons stores and military outposts.

In addition, the IDF and Israel Security Agency (ISA, or Shin Bet), attacked the homes of senior terrorists that served as command and control infrastructures for the Hamas organization.

Among the homes attacked were those of:

Oubal Jandiya – Deputy Commander of Hamas forces in Sejaeeya, born 1978. Forces under his command fired at IDF forces. Jandiya also participated in fighting in 2012's Operation Pillar of Defense.

Arafat Abu Abdullah – Commander of Islamic Jihad forces in central Gaza camps, born 1989. Abu Abadullah is responsible for all Islamic Jihad terror activity from this region, and has directed rocket fire against Israel during the latest escalation.

Mahdi Kuware – senior Hamas operative in Khan Younis.

Nassim Abu Ajinah – senior Hamas commander in Bayt Lahiya region, born 1984. Responsible for growth of terror forces in his region and for much of Gaza's extensive tunnels system, used to smuggle weapons and hide rocket positions.

Shadi Saleh Rajeb – senior Hamas operative in Bayt Lahiya, born 1983. Resposible for rocket fire against Israel.

"The IDF is determined and will continue to systematically attack targets until meaningful damage is caused to the Hamas terror organization, and will take action to destroy the terror infrastructures that operate against the citizens of Israel," the military said in a statement Thursday.

"The IDF has inflicted serious damage to Hamas, its infrastructures and all elements using terror against the state of Israel and its citizens, and will deepen this damage."

Precisely how the IDF seeks to "deepen the damage" is becoming increasingly clearer, as preparations for a ground incursion appear to be underway.

The IDF on Thursday afternoon contacted by phone Arab residents of Gaza living near the security border, warning them to evacuate their homes immediately. The phone calls were made to a total of roughly 100,000 Arab residents of the Hamas stronghold. The phone warnings indicate that the operation may be moving into a new stage and entering a ground offensive.

IDF Vows to 'Deepen the Damage' to Hamas - Defense/Security - News - Arutz Sheva

[Pretty Flamingo]

A very interesting op-ed from a man I greatly respect and admire.

Land Invasion: Beware the Trap Laid by Hamas - Op-Eds - Arutz Sheva

[Pretty Flamingo]

Terror Tunnel Attack, and IDF Destructive Response

Major terror attack prevented as soldiers identified and eliminated a threat emerging from a Gaza terror tunnel.
By Yaakov Levi
First Publish: 7/17/2014, 8:43 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7ZOtyLLb1Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7ZOtyLLb1Q

The IDF released a video Thursday morning 17 July detailing the attempt by Hamas terrorists to conduct a major terror attack in Israel by infiltrating through a Gaza terror tunnel. The 13 terrorists involved in the attempted attack were apparently surprised that they were being observed by Israeli soldiers, an IDF official said, and attempted to return to Gaza via the tunnel, at which point an Israel Air Force plane destroyed the entrance to the tunnel.

In the early morning hours of Thursday, the army said, IDF soldiers identified a group of 13 terrorists attempting to enter Israel via a tunnel in the southern Gaza Strip. The tunnel was one of several the IDF had recently uncovered that were to be used to smuggle terrorists into Israeli cities.

IDF soldiers attacked the group. Several of the terrorists were killed on the spot. The tunnel has been destroyed, as well. In a statement, Hamas accepted responsibility for the attempted attack, claiming that “all its operatives had returned safely.”

An IDF spokesperson said that the army had prior knowledge that the terror attempt would take place, and was ready for the group. The group was heavily armed, and had they gotten past IDF patrols, would have been able to commit a major terror attack, killing many people and nabbing hostages, the spokesperson told Israel Radio.

Last week, the IDF struck several terror tunnels in Gaza, stating that the move prevented a steady stream of terrorists into Israel. Shortly before the tunnel was destroyed, one senior IDF official spoke about the discovery to Arutz Sheva on condition of anonymity. "We recently found a significant terror tunnel leading out of Gaza, which we are gathering intelligence about to prevent further terror attacks and to prevent [the tunnel] from being used [again]," the official said.

In a statement, the army said that "The IDF is prepared to defend the citizens of Israel from any threat and will continue to act decisively and as long as necessary until peace returns to daily life.”

Photos at this link
Video Details Terror Tunnel Attack, IDF Response - Defense/Security - News - Arutz Sheva




.

[FrancSevin]

Originally Posted by Pretty Flamingo

A very interesting op-ed from a man I greatly respect and admire.

Land Invasion: Beware the Trap Laid by Hamas - Op-Eds - Arutz Sheva

I would agree whole heartedly with Dr Kedar.

The world needs to stop supporting, in any material waay, the people of Gaza. Shut the power, shut the water,shut the flow of food. Israel will suffer the hate of the world for it. But, who could honestly tell the difference?

Hamas and the palestinians do not appreciate our help, and they don't need it from us. Plenty of money in the Arab world will flow in.
Israel doesn't need it either. All they need is our moral support and the ability to purchase weapons from us. (With a 25% reduction in forces, we obviously don't plan to use them anyways.)

To each nation we say, you have land andpeople, make the best of it.

The Jews will defend and prosper
Hamas will continue to tryand steal the results of Jewish success and Israel, free of concerns for world opinion, will stamp them like a bug.

The survivors will seek freinds to regroup and start the war against the Jews again and again. As they have done for centuries. For Millenias.

Israel will prevail. They always have.

[mlurp]

I sure wish all news on this Gaza/Israel never ending fight would just go into one thread such as this one. Which Pretty Flamingo has done her best to keep up to date..

If I might add this to your thread Pretty Flamingo. It is short...

Israeli PM orders ground offensive in Gaza: official statement


Reuters 2 hours ago

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday instructed the military to begin a ground offensive in Gaza, an official statement from his office said.

Reuters witnesses and Gaza residents reported heavy artillery and naval shelling and helicopter fire along the Gaza border.

"The prime minister and defence minister have instructed the IDF to begin a ground operation tonight in order to hit the terror tunnels from Gaza into Israel," the statement said.

Israel and Palestinian militants in the densely populated enclave have been fighting a cross border war for the ten days.

The Israeli military says Gaza militants have fired more than 1,300 rockets into Israel, and Palestinian health officials say 233 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli air and naval strikes. One Israeli civilian has been killed by fire from Gaza.

A statement from the Israeli military said the operation will include "infantry, armoured corps, engineer corps, artillery and intelligence combined with aerial and naval support."

Before dawn on Thursday, about a dozen Palestinian fighters tunnelled under the border, emerging near an Israeli community. At least one was killed when Israeli aircraft bombed the group, the military said.

(Writing by Maayan Lubell; Editing by Louise Ireland)


Related Stories


Israel says ground offensive under way in Gaza Reuters
Israel's Netanyahu says he's ordered ground offensive in Gaza MarketWatch
Israel says it has sent ground troops to Gaza Associated Press
Gaza dead reach 78 as Israelis hint at invasion Reuters
Hamas steps up rocket fire, Israel says ready for escalation Reuters

Israeli PM orders ground offensive in Gaza: official statement


I was hoping that Hamas would come to grip with the reality of their situation, but no... I guess they are hoping that other countries and for sure the UN would blame Israel now.

I watched C. Rpse last evening and his show was about this. I listened to both of the speaker for both side. And had to turn to another station when this UN for Hamas keep saying these attacks etc. even after Charlie made it clear, as did the Diplomat for Israel that Hamas was the attackers...

And if the Palestinians want them involved in their government speaking for them and having Hamas bring death on them. Then who is to blame? And if you think it is Israel then your brain dead to.

[762nato]

Originally Posted by mlurp

I agree but as MrL's cartoon suggest [and it is the truth] Israel would be hammered with world wide damnation in doing even close to this.

While Hamas fires it's rockets which have no guidance Israel has to hit pinpoint targets. And Hamas keeps children around them so these children are harmed or die.
And it is back to blaming the Jews.

I think it was Bibi who recently said: Israel uses their rockets to protect their people while the Palistinians use their people to protect their rockets.

[mlurp]

Originally Posted by 762nato

I think it was Bibi who recently said: Israel uses their rockets to protect their people while the Palistinians use their people to protect their rockets.

I forgot as I have heard so much about this from both sides. I can't stand any but Israel as these others just blame the Jews. Yet they always ask for more and did strike first. As always.

And the UN has so many of these as-swipes it has become useless.. As for the Palestinians they deserve what they choose.

When they wake up to reality and think about Peace they might want to consider that is only possible if the stop playing games and learn to accept this Nation, Israel.

As this is the only way possible, period.

[Pretty Flamingo]

The Iron Dome is proving an excellent missile defence system in Israel. My daughter lives in central Tel-Aviv and were it not for the ID there, and in other towns' built-up areas, things would be very serious.


.