Israeli aircraft bombed targets across the Gaza Strip and Gaza terrorists fired rockets into Israel early Tuesday, the second day of cross-border fighting that erupted in the last stretch of a closely contested race for Israeli prime minister.
The latest violence was triggered by a surprise rocket fired early Monday from Gaza, a territory ruled since 2007 by the Islamic terror group Hamas. The rocket slammed into a house in central Israel and injured seven people.
In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would cut short a visit to Washington, Israel sent troop reinforcements to the Gaza border and Hamas leaders went into hiding — signals that both sides are heading into perhaps the most serious confrontation since a 2014 Israel-Hamas war.
Late Monday, Hamas announced a cease-fire had been brokered by Egyptian mediators, but the cross-border strikes continued into early Tuesday.
Netanyahu signaled a tough response.
“Israel will not tolerate this. I will not tolerate this,” he declared during a White House meeting with President Donald Trump.
“Israel is responding forcefully to this wanton aggression,” he said. “We will do whatever we must do to defend our people and defend our state.”
Several Israeli airstrikes rocked Gaza, including an explosion that destroyed the office of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. The IDF confirmed the bombing, saying the building had “served as an office for many military meetings.”
An earlier blast destroyed a multistory building in Gaza City that Israel said had served as a Hamas military intelligence headquarters. Several other locations connected to Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad group
In both blasts, Israel fired warning shots to evacuate the buildings. But the airstrike on the multistory building was so powerful it sent debris flying onto the roof of The Associated Press bureau, located on the 11th floor of a nearby high-rise.
Gaza’s Health Ministry said seven Palestinians were injured in the airstrikes.
Haniyeh issued a statement warning Israel against heavy retaliation. He said the Palestinian people “will not surrender” and its militant factions “will deter the enemy if it exceeds the red lines.”
Israel opened public bomb shelters in most major cities and civil defense authorities canceled sports events and public transportation in southern Israel.
The Israeli army said several dozen rockets had been fired into Israel on Monday and Tuesday, as air raid sirens wailed across southern Israel. The army said nearly all rockets were either intercepted or landed in open areas.
In Beirut, the powerful Lebanese terror group Hezbollah said its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, met Monday with a senior Hamas delegation. Hezbollah said they discussed the Gaza situation and “Israeli aggression.”
Watch: Hamas HQs and high value terrorist installations in the Gaza Strip being destroyed by the Israeli Air Force as a response to Hamas' rocket attacks on Israeli towns.
Would your country sit silent when a ruthless terror organization is shelling your town? pic.twitter.com/ZZn5lurRhn
— Ofir Gendelman (@ofirgendelman) March 26, 2019
What do you do at your office each day? Send emails? Create spreadsheets? Make phone calls?
Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh uses his office in order to lead a brutal terrorist organization in a war of aggression against Israel.
We just destroyed his office. pic.twitter.com/26KGVlac7F
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 25, 2019
The conflagration comes at a time when both Netanyahu and his Hamas foes are in desperate situations, with little incentive to de-escalate quickly.
Netanyahu is in a tight race for re-election against former army chief Benny Gantz. Just two weeks before the April 9 vote, he faces tough criticism from political rivals, including in his own right-wing political camp, who accuse him of being too soft on Hamas.
Hamas, meanwhile, is facing perhaps its toughest domestic test since seizing control of Gaza from the rival Palestinian Authority 12 years ago.
An Israel-Egyptian blockade, imposed to weaken Hamas, combined with sanctions by the Palestinian Authority and mismanagement by the Hamas government, have all fueled an economic crisis that has left Gaza with an unemployment rate above 50 percent.
WATCH: These are the skies of southern Israel tonight. Dozens of rockets were fired by Hamas from Gaza at Israeli towns. Hamas is specifically targeting Sderot, a town of 25,000 residents.
Shelling civilians is a crime against humanity & Hamas perpetrated it thousands of times. pic.twitter.com/j6Gx4o6Qja
— Ofir Gendelman (@ofirgendelman) March 25, 2019
Hamas has been leading weekly protests along the Israeli border for the past year in hopes of easing the blockade, but the demonstrations, in which some 190 terrorists have been killed by Israeli fire, have done little to improve conditions.
Last week, hundreds of Gazans protested the dire conditions, a rare expression of public discontent against the authoritarian government. Hamas responded with a violent crackdown, beating and arresting dozens of demonstrators and drawing rare public criticism.
The rocket attack, which caught Israel off guard, may have been an attempt by Hamas to divert attention from its growing domestic woes.
RAW FOOTAGE: This is what it feels like to be under rocket attack.
Hamas sees all of Israel as a target. pic.twitter.com/EgjIJfT0Mc
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 25, 2019
Israel and Hamas have fought three wars. Although neither side appears to have an interest in another war, fighting could easily spin out of control. The 2014 conflict lasted 50 days and ended with over 2,000 Palestinian deaths, including hundreds of civilians, and 73 killed on the Israeli side.
Netanyahu faces the difficult task of delivering a tough blow to Hamas while avoiding protracted fighting that could work against him on election day.
Monday’s attack came 10 days after rockets were fired from Gaza toward Israel’s densely populated commercial capital of Tel Aviv, and the Israeli military struck back. Gaza’s Hamas leaders said the rocket was fired accidentally and the fighting quickly subsided.
The sounds of air raid sirens jolted residents of the Sharon area, northeast of Tel Aviv, shortly after 5 a.m. Monday, sending them scurrying to bomb shelters.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BvdB24igIdZ/
Hamas' aggression continues. Hamas has just fired rockets at Israeli civilians living in towns near the Gaza Strip.
Hamas sees all of Israel as a target. pic.twitter.com/f1m1XLScJn
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 25, 2019
The rocket destroyed a residential home in the farming community of Mishmeret, wounding six members of a family. The Magen David Adom rescue service said it treated seven people, including two women who were moderately wounded. The others, including two children and an infant, had minor injuries.
The Israeli military said Hamas terrorists fired the rocket from southern Gaza. It said its Iron Dome rocket-defense system was not activated because the attack in central Israel had not been anticipated. The army added it was reinforcing its missile defense batteries in preparation for an escalation.
Maj. Mika Lifshitz, a military spokeswoman, said it was a self-manufactured rocket with a range of 120 kilometers (75 miles), making it one of the deepest strikes ever carried out by Hamas.
Lifshitz added that two armor and infantry brigades were being mobilized to the Gaza front and that a limited drafting of reserves was also taking place.
We have just targeted Hamas' secret military intelligence HQ in Gaza.
The context for this strike: Last night, Hamas fired a rocket 75 miles into Israel. The rocket destroyed a house and wounded seven people, including children.
We will defend our homes. pic.twitter.com/AIWV1tn8V2
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 25, 2019
Several cities, including Tel Aviv and Beersheba, opened public bomb shelters. Civil defense officials canceled sporting matches and train service in southern Israel. Schools were ordered to hold classes in bomb shelters, and large public gatherings were banned.
Netanyahu came under heavy criticism from allies and opponents for what they say has been an ineffective policy containing Gaza militants.
He has conducted indirect cease-fire talks through Egyptian mediators in recent months, and even allowed the delivery of millions of dollars of Qatari aid to Hamas to ease harsh conditions in Gaza.
“The reality in which Hamas turned Israel into a hostage is unprecedented and unfathomable,” his chief challenger, Gantz, wrote on Twitter on Monday. Gantz led the army during the last Gaza war in 2014.
Netanyahu also came under attack from his own nationalistic allies.
“Israel’s deterrence has collapsed, and it has to be said in all honesty Netanyahu has failed against Hamas,” said Education Minister Naftali Bennett, head of the Yamin HeHadash faction in Netanyahu’s coalition.
Hey @itvnews & @Channel4News, we don't mean to do your job, but we have some news you should have covered: pic.twitter.com/iPc3KrQNo3
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 25, 2019
IMAGINE: You wake up to the sound of air-raid sirens & realize that terrorists fired a rocket at your home.
This morning, a home in central Israel was destroyed when it was directly hit by a homemade rocket fired by #Hamas from over 75 miles away in #Gaza.#StopHamas pic.twitter.com/yhDWWobnLW
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 25, 2019
🚨 AIR-RAID SIRENS SOUNDING IN SOUTHERN ISRAEL 🚨 pic.twitter.com/RDBaU53Yd0
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 25, 2019
(AP)
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13 Responses
The correct headline should read: IDF Begins leveling more empty buildings.
Moisheingolus is correct. Until Israel doesn’t cut off the head
Of the snake, they are just wasting money on expensive bombs.
ZCS, you’re sadly right!
I hope the IDF reads these comments
Wow what a “very strong army” they tell the enemy to go into hiding so they can destroy empty buildings.
What a. Deterrent!
didn’t know the IAF runs a demolition service of empty old buildings, that Qatar will pay to replace.
yaapchik, well said
The only target that gets hurt is cement
“ISRAEL RETALIATES”. HAMAS just launched 20 rockets into Israel. This would be laughable if was not so tragic.
“Hamas’ leaders went into hiding”
But the people can be in harms way only the coward leaders go to hide!
Every Hamas cease-fire is followed by Hamas renewing airstrikes on Israel.
when does the real fun start
Sir Bibi said
“Netanyahu signaled a tough response.
“Israel will not tolerate this. I will not tolerate this,” he declared during a White House meeting with President Donald Trump.”
He cont.
“Israel is responding forcefully to this wanton aggression,” he said. “We will do whatever we must do to defend our people and defend our state.”
WHAT DID HE DO??
one BIG nothing. Unfortunately he is afraid of everyone BUT G-D.
And will likely still be PM.