LIVE UPDATES: IDF shells Lebanon after cross-border rocket attack

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The inner cabinet met late last night to discuss a ground operation. As of Sunday noon, 42,000 of the 48,000 reservists authorized by the cabinet had been called up. Most were infantry soldiers. They will replace conscripts deployed in other regions, who will be reassigned in preparation for a possible ground invasion.

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1:24 A.M. The alerts sounded just after midnight in the Western Galilee were due to the launching of several missiles from within Lebanon, the IDF spokesman says, adding that no injuries were caused in the attack. The IDF also said that massive artillery fire was directed at the source of the shooting in response, and that "severe messages" were conveyed to the Lebanese authorities via the UN's UNIFIL forces. (Eli Ashkenazi)

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11:55 P.M. High-trajectory fire was directed at IDF forces from across Israel's border with Syria. None were injured, and IDF forces returned artillery fire toward Syrian military bases. The IDF spokesman said direct hits were made, and added that the IDF considers the Syrian regime responsible for all such actions undertaken in its territory.

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10:23 P.M. The IDF fired at tagets in Syria in response to a rocket attack on the Golan Heights (Eli Ashkenazi)

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.604898

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1. Gaza police chief survives Israeli airstrike on family home — but bombs kill 18 relatives, including

The target was the Gaza police chief. He survived the Israeli airstrike on a cousin’s home with critical injuries, but 18 family members were killed, including five children and teens.

The weekend attack highlighted Israel’s broad definition of military targets in its current offensive against the Islamic militant group Hamas. The army says those targets include senior Hamas activists and their homes, even as it insists it is doing the utmost to spare bystanders by warning them to clear out.

However, the U.N. Office for Humanitarian Affairs said Sunday that civilians made up the majority of Palestinian casualties over the past six days – 133 of 168 killed and nearly half of more than 1,100 wounded. And a human-rights researcher said some of Israel’s strikes appear to have violated rules of war.

The issue of Israel’s targets cuts to the core of conflicting narratives.

http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/07/13/gaza-police-chief-survives-israeli-airstrike-on-family-home-but-bombs-kill-18-relatives-including-children/

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2. Star Comment: A Brutal War of Occupation

Tens of thousands protesting on every continent at Israel’s murderous assault on Gaza show the world is not taken in by Benjamin Netanyahu’s flimsy claims of self-defence.

The weekend saw the worst violence yet, with over 50 Palestinians killed in pre-dawn raids alone yesterday morning — including 18 members of a single extended family, the youngest a three-year-old girl.

That means nearly 200 Palestinians — over three-quarters of whom were civilians, according to the United Nations — have died since Israel launched wide-ranging air raids on the besieged enclave last Tuesday.

Hamas rockets fired back at Israel have, by contrast, killed no-one.

http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-4a51-Star-Comment-A-Brutal-War-of-Occupation

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3. More Lebanon rockets strike Israeli occupied territories

Rockets were fired at from southern Lebanon towards Israeli occupied territories on Monday, prompting artillery fire from Israeli forces, Lebanese security officials and the Israeli occupation army said, in the third such rocket attack from Lebanon since Friday.

An Israeli police spokeswoman said there was no immediate word of damage or casualties from the rocket fire.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

The attacks from Lebanon have coincided with a relentless Israeli assault the besieged Gaza Strip which has killed at least 160 people.

http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/more-lebanon-rockets-strike-israeli-occupied-territories