Jewish Home Receives Direct Rocket Hit, IDF to Increase Intensity Against Hamas

With a missile directly hitting a house in Sderot over Shabbat, injuring the family inside, the IDF has been ordered to increase the intensity of its responses to Hamas rocket fire on southern Israel.

Prime Minister Netanyahu said the following: “In consultation with the Minister of Defense, the Chief-of-Staff and the top security command of the State of Israel, we have decided on strong action against Hamas terrorism. The IDF has struck Hamas with the hardest blow since Operation Protective Edge and we will increase the strength of our attacks as necessary.”

Hamas and Islamic Jihad has now claimed they have reached a ceasefire with Israel.  With over 180 rockets fired at Israel since Friday, Israeli officials are waiting to see “facts on the ground” before ruling an intensifying of the IDF’s next moves.

 

ON THE FRONTLINES: Hamas Fires Rocket at Sderot, Shattering Quietest Summer in Years

Sderot has been relishing in what has been noted as the quietest summer in years in terms of rocket attacks.  Today that quiet was briefly shattered with the blaring of the Code Red siren and the discovery of a detonated rocket that had landed between two homes in Sderot.

The IDF and IAF immediately retaliated and struck a number of military targets in the Gaza strip belonging to Hamas.

“In response to a shooting carried out a short time ago toward the city of Sderot, we attacked, using an Air Force jet, terror infrastructure belonging to the terror organization Hamas, in the northern Gaza Strip,” the IDF tweeted on its Hebrew language account.

The Israeli airforce continued to pound targets in the Gaza Strip into the night.

Although most experts believe that Hamas is not moving towards another round of war with Israel, with the Middle East changing at a rapid rate anything is possible.  Hamas has been said to be preparing for another of conflict, by digging more tunnel and smuggling weapons into Gaza. The question now is if this missile attack was a one off or an opening shot in the next war.

Headlines July 3: Gaza Rocket Hits Kindergarten, 58 Muslim Extremists Arrested, Hamas Threatens Glick, Elie Wiesel Dies at 87

Hamas Animated Video Threatens Assassination of MK Glick
[The Jewish Press]

 

Nobel Prize winner and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel dies at 87
[The Jerusalem Post]

 

Jerusalem police have arrested 58 Muslim extremists involved in recent riots and disturbances on the Temple Mount.
[Arutz Sheva]

 

In 5-hour meeting, National Security Cabinet passes new measures to counter terrorist incitement.
[Arutz Sheva]

 

Israel welcomes the Quartet’s recognition of the centrality of Palestinian incitement and violence to the perpetuation of the conflict. This culture of hatred poisons minds and destroys lives and stands as the single greatest obstacle to progress towards peace.
[Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs]

 

A kindergarten building in Sderot is badly damaged in a Gaza rocket attack on the Sabbath.
[The Jewish Press]

 

In an emotional video released Sunday morning, the children of Rabbi Michael “Miki” Mark, who was murdered by Palestinian gunmen on Friday,  pleaded with the public to attend their father’s funeral.
[The Jerusalem Post]