Rocket fired from Gaza hits Israel despite ceasefire

[Jefferson23]

BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- A rocket from Gaza struck the Ashkelon region of southern Israel on Thursday around 5:30 p.m. according to an Israeli military spokesman, causing no damage but putting into danger an already tenuous cessation of hostilities.

Israeli military sources also denied that a new ceasefire had been put in place but said that "calm will be answered with calm" according to an Israeli media report, echoing statements from top officials in Islamic Jihad earlier Thursday.

Israeli news website Ynet reported that an unnamed Israeli security source said that no new ceasefire agreement had been reached, but that Israeli forces would not launch any unprovoked attacks, in keeping with the terms of the 2012 ceasefire.

Despite this, earlier in the day Israeli armed forces called up its air force reserves, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported.

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=681353

[Jefferson23]

1. Egypt 'intentionally' ignored Hamas on Gaza ceasefire

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Egypt communicated with Islamic Jihad directly to broker the most recent truce with Israel and intentionally ignored Hamas, a leader for the movement as well as an Egyptian security official said on Thursday.

The decision to coordinate directly with Islamic Jihad, the militant group that launched the vast majority of Wednesday's rocket barrage on Israel, and not with Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, highlights the continuing tension between Egypt's military and the party.

Hamas leader Ghazi Hamad told al-Mayadeen channel that the group was "not informed by Egypt about any agreement, and the Egyptian side should have coordinated with Hamas."

An Egyptian official who spoke on the condition of anonymity confirmed to Ma'an that Egyptian national security services contacted Israel and the Islamic Jihad, but not Hamas, in order to negotiate the re-activation of the 2012 ceasefire.

He said that Egypt intentionally avoided Hamas for the first time, as they preferred to contact the Islamic Jihad directly for "their good relations and understanding."



http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=681373

[Jefferson23]

2. EU warns of security fallout from Gaza crisis

JERUSALEM (AFP) -- The European Union has warned of "serious consequences" for Middle East regional security if the Gaza Strip's dire economic and humanitarian situation is not addressed.

A report commissioned by EU consuls-general in East Jerusalem and Ramallah urged Israel to ease access restrictions to the blockaded Palestinian territory, especially in light of an unprecedented crackdown by the new Egyptian regime on Gaza's western border.

"Today, Gaza is facing a dangerous and pressing humanitarian and economic situation... (including) the cessation of imports of construction materials; rising unemployment, rising prices and increased food insecurity," the report said.

"If left unaddressed, the situation could have serious consequences for stability in Gaza, for security more widely in the region as well as for the peace process itself," it said, referring to ongoing US-backed Israeli-Palestinian talks.

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=681175

[King_David]

3. They broke the ceasefire ?

Quelle Surprise !

[aranthus]

4. But why now?

Trying to make sure that the peace talks fail?

[King_David]

5. Probably,

They know there will be retribution or heavy pressure on Israel not to retaliate.
Nettenyahu doesn't need any small excuse.

[Jefferson23]

6. B’Tselem condemns rocket fire at civilian communities in Gaza-Israel escalation

Published:
13 Mar 2014

In light of the recent escalation in violence on the Gaza-Israel border, B’Tselem reiterates that directing rocket and missile fire at civilians is prohibited and constitutes a war crime.

Attacks aimed at civilians are immoral and illegal. The Hamas government in Gaza must take all legal measures at its disposal to stop the rocket fire. Anyone who carries out such attacks, is responsible for them, or holds a position that obliges their prevention, bears criminal responsibility for these attacks.

B’Tselem demands that all sides involved in the hostilities take all possible steps to protect civilians from the consequences. The laws of war obligate all sides to do all that is in their power to prevent harm to civilians.

http://www.btselem.org/press_releases/20140313_hostilities

[King_David]

8. I think anything and everything must be done to stop the rocket fire

Nobody should have to live with not tolerate this lunatic psychotic terror.

[Jefferson23]

9. Anything and everything...interesting.

The Palestinians would give a lot to see the end of the occupation, would go a
long way to end the misery and incitement that dates back over forty years,
before rockets and suicide bombers.

List of Topics

Accountability
List background materials
Administrative Detention
Area C
List background materials
Attacks on Israeli civilians by Palestinians
Beating and abuse
Demolition of houses as punishment
Demolition for alleged military purposes
Demonstrations
List background materials
Deportation
Detainees and prisoners
List background materials
East Jerusalem
List background materials
Family separation
Gaza Strip
List background materials
Hebron
Human shields
International Law
List background materials
Intra-Palestinian violations
Jordan Valley
Planning and building
List background materials
Restrictions on movement
List background materials
Separation Barrier
List background materials
Settlements
List background materials
Settler violence: Lack of accountability
South Hebron Hills
List background materials
Torture
Use of firearms
Water Crisis
List background materials
Workers from the territories
List background materials

http://www.btselem.org/list_of_topics

[King_David]

10. You think Hamas would stop the rockets if the occupation ended ?

If only Hamas , Islamic Jihad and other psycho terrorist groups would accept the leadership from you and the other Western sugar coaters.
The occupation would of ended long time ago.

[Jefferson23]

11. Bullshit, the occupation was oppressive before Hamas..long before.

The occupation and its unintended consequences, aka blowback.

[King_David]

13. Nice ... But Israel takes Hamas seriously

They don't recognize you western dudes as the legitimate leaders if the Palestinians.
If Hamas considers Tel Aviv Jaffa and Haifa as Palestine and gonna fight till liberation...

They tend to believe them as opposed to you dudes who claim to speak for them from the USA or Europe ...

Bulshit you may say? I believe Hamas when they talk.

[Jefferson23]

14. You do that, the documented record, says otherwise.

Israel's land grab meant more to them than peace...always has.

[King_David]

15. So says their leadership in the USA

But in Palestine--- not so much .--- Mr.Leader...

[Jefferson23]

16. Leadership? One only needs to be able to read the record.

Some of which was already posted for you by B'Tselem.

That record will never be erased no matter how hard you try...it is permanent.

[Jefferson23]

7. Islamic Jihad in the spotlight as violence flares in Gaza

At around midnight on Thursday, Majed Abusalama is trying to post news about Gaza to social media sites. Israeli warplanes hovering in the sky above him and intermittent power cuts make his endeavour almost impossible.

“As I am writing to you, I can hear dozens of warplanes outside,” the Gaza-based journalist told Ahram Online in an email.

Israeli aircrafts were targeting the bases of Hamas, the Islamic movement governing Gaza, and the Palestinian resistance faction of the Islamic Jihad, after the latter had taken responsibility for firing a salvo of rockets into Israel.

The pugnacious retaliation was swift. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would “strike” those who harmed Israel and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman warned of a reoccupation of the besieged enclave, and starting on Wednesday Israel carried 29 reported airstrikes in Gaza, according to Reuters.

Al Quds, the armed wing of the Iranian-backed Islamic Jihad group, issued a statement saying it had fired an estimated 60 rockets into Israel in response to a drone on Tuesday that assassinated three of its militants in southern Gaza in an air strike. Israel was allegedly responding to an earlier incident when Islamic Jihad fired a mortar round at troops reportedly trying to cross the Gaza-Israeli border.

Maath Musleh, a Jerusalem-based lecturer at the Al-Quds Bard College, said that Islamic Jihad’s use of rockets is the same tactic it employs every time Israel carries out assassinations of its members.

An Egyptian-brokered truce between the warring parties went into effect at 2pm on Thursday, but had failed to put a complete stop to the raids on Gaza.

Analysts responded with mixed feelings about Egypt’s role as arbitrator of the truce.

British-Palestinian Kamel Hawwash, a professor at the University of Birmingham, told Ahram Online that the truce was a continuation of the 2012 ceasefire between Hamas and Israel under the sponsorship of Egypt, with Islamic Jihad replacing Hamas.

He said that Egypt is moved by an interest to avoid a full-scale assault on Gaza, especially across the Rafah border, which Egypt will be pressured to open for humanitarian cases from Gaza should further violence break out.

On the other hand, independent Palestinian activist Abbas Hamideh told Ahram Online that Egypt’s involvement was “laughable,” considering its own “involvement and complicity in enforcing the siege in Gaza and making Palestinian lives miserable.”

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/96638/World/Region/Islamic-Jihad-in-the-spotlight-as-violence-flares-.aspx

[Jefferson23]

12. Rocket fire from Gaza to south Israel does not justify collective punishment of Gaza residents

Published:
13 Mar 2014

On Wednesday, 12 March 2014, the IDF Spokesperson announced that, following rocket fire from Gaza aimed at civilian communities in southern Israel, Kerem Shalom Crossing would be closed and activity at Erez Crossing limited to cases that the military defines humanitarian.

The IDF Spokesperson stated that “a decision to open Kerem Shalom Crossing and restore activity at Erez Crossing to full capacity will be made based on evaluations of the situation and on security considerations.” It is Israel’s duty to protect its borders and residents; however, that does not justify such harsh measures against all residents of the Gaza Strip who are not involved in the hostilities.

Closing the crossings will also have a severe effect on electricity supply in the Gaza Strip. Its sole power plant has not operated regularly since the tunnels on the Egyptian border were closed, and Gaza residents have been receiving a very limited electricity supply from Israel and Egypt. Recently, a Qatar government donation to purchase fuel for the power plant reduced the prolonged power shortages in Gaza. Tomorrow, Israel is supposed to transfer to Gaza 500 liters of fuel purchased with the donation money. If this does not occur, the power shortages that affect all residents of Gaza will be extended from 8 to at least 12 in 24 hours.

B’Tselem calls upon Israel to refrain from collectively punishing the residents of the Gaza Strip.

http://www.btselem.org/gaza_strip/20140313_closing_of_gaza_crossings