Free Republic

The controversial editor in chief of Harper’s Bazaar sparked anger in the gilded halls of the Hearst-owned glossy after calling Israel’s move to cut power to Gaza the “most inhuman thing” she’s “ever seen” in her life. Samira Nasr, whose father is Lebanese and whose mother is Trinidadian, wrote on her Instagram Stories Tuesday night: “Cutting off water and electricity to 2.2 million civilians…This is the most inhuman thing I’ve seen in my life.” The post sparked immediate blowback from Hearst staffers and fashion industry insiders still fuming over Hamas terrorists killing more than 1,200 Israelis, many of them children....

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said on Sunday that the Palestinian Arab “resistance organizations” succeeded, through their joint operations room, in taking the reins of the military initiative in managing the "revenge of the free people" campaign against Israel and thwarting its attempt to impose a new equation. In a statement published following the end of Operation Shield and Arrow, Haniyeh said that the resistance organizations proved their ability to stop the "arrogance of the occupation" in its attempt to differentiate the Islamic Jihad in the military campaign and to drive a wedge between the Palestinian Arab resistance organizations. In the...

Additional barrages of rockets have been fired at communities in southern and central Israel this evening (Wednesday) after Egyptian media reported that Egypt had brokered a ceasefire agreement between Israel and the terrorist organizations and the Gaza Strip which has already gone into effect. Israeli officials have acknowledged that contacts have been made with the Egyptian government on the possibility of a ceasefire, but have not acknowledged that any agreement has been reached. "Egypt approached us with a request for a cease-fire - the issue will be examined," Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said in an interview with Kan News. At...

The Lebanese Al-Mayadeen news website, which is affiliated with Hezbollah, reported on Wednesday that Palestinian Arab terrorist groups have informed Israel, through mediators, that they will not remain silent and respond militarily to Israel's attempts to establish new facts in Jerusalem and in particular in the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Palestinian Arab sources in Gaza told the website that Israel sent a message through the mediators that the Flag March, scheduled for this Sunday in Jerusalem, would take place along the same route that has been customary in recent years. The message also stated that the Israel Police will limit the number...

Zaher Jabarin, one of Hamas' leaders, has threatened to fire over 1,000 rockets at Israel, Channel 12 News reported. Last year, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar referenced the number 1,111 but did not detail the context. At the time, he said, "We are confident in our ability to obtain our rights and remember the number 1,111." It was assumed then that the number was in reference to how many terrorists Hamas would demand released in the next prisoner swap. Now, Jabarin has clarified, in Sinwar's name, that 1,111 is the number of rockets which will be fired during the first barrage...

The Hamas terror group held ceremonies throughout Gaza on Friday to mark the 34th anniversary of the outbreak of the First Intifada, which they claim was a sign of commitment to continue the struggle for the liberation of "Palestine." Mushir al-Masri, a senior Hamas figure, said in a rally in northern Gaza (as reported in the Falastin newspaper) that Hamas continues on the path of jihad and the struggle in all its forms, particularly that of armed resistance against Israel. According to him, Jerusalem will remain the organization's central purpose... Masri added that the "Palestinian" people are in an open...

Took eldest son back to his base on the Ghaza border after getting him leave to attend his cousin's bat mitzvah. Reflections of Avi and wife Elana re war, son in harm's way, Israel's jois de vivre, etc.

..... The terrorist organization claimed that the rocket attacks were in retaliation for the continued air strikes on Hams targets in Gaza. Hamas said it attacked air force bases in Hatzor, Hatzerim, Nabataean, Tel Nof, Palmachim and Ramon.

An IDF aircraft attacked a Hamas terrorist cell in Shejaiya in Gaza immediately after the cell fired missiles into Israeli territory. The rocket launching station was also destroyed. "The position is located inside a school, which proves once again how the terrorist organization Hamas deliberately places its military assets in the heart of the civilian population," the IDF said. Hamas and Islamic Jihad have launched over 3,000 rockets at Israel since last Monday. According to Magen David Adom, 12 people have been killed...

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Saturday he is "dismayed" by civilian casualties in Gaza and "deeply disturbed" by Israel's strike on a building containing international media outlets, AFP reports. The comments came after 10 members of a family were reportedly killed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza, and another air strike demolished the 13-floor Gaza building housing Al Jazeera and The Associated Press news agency. .....

Mayor of Sderot Alon Davidi attacked the government for its failure to put an end to terrorist activity in the Gaza Strip as incendiary balloons and missiles continue to be launched from the Hamas controlled territory into southern Israel. "During a week when everyone has been talking jubilantly about peace for peace it is not at all clear to me which world we are talking about," Davidi lamented. "In our city, there is a war, there are missiles and a lack of basic security for our residents. Prime minister and minister of defense: you need to wake up. The residents...

The IDF remains vigilant on the Gaza border six years following Operation Protective Edge. Reconnaissance operations take place at all hours of the day, including technologically advanced intelligence gathering and air force activity. Arutz Sheva toured IDF positions along the Gaza border to see those preparations.Soldiers at the IDF observation tower can see Hamas positions only a few hundred meters away, just across the security fence. Traveling along the border with Gaza reveals how advanced and significant the fence is. The barrier extends dozens of meters above and below ground to prevent the construction of cross-border attack tunnels. While the...

Channel 13 reported that Hamas officials told the Lebanese al-Akhbar newspaper on Saturday that talks had been held with Egyptian and Qatari negotiators in recent days to monitor the difficult economic situation in Gaza in light of the coronavirus crisis. They claimed that if the economic situation were to deteriorate, "the [situation] with Israel will get to the point that terrorist organizations in Gaza will force half of the Israeli public into [bomb] shelters." This, they say, will double the number of Israelis infected with the COVID-19 - and Israel will lose control of the virus. In addition, Hamas officials...

An Egyptian source said on Thursday morning that a ceasefire agreement had been reached between Israel and the Islamic Jihad and that it took effect as of 5:30 a.m. According to the source, Islamic Jihad and the other Palestinian organizations have agreed to the Egyptian proposal for an immediate ceasefire and to conduct the demonstrations along the border fence peacefully, while Israel has agreed to the Egyptian proposal for an immediate ceasefire, the cessation of targeted killings of terrorists and the cessation of shootings at protesters along the fence. Arab media outlets also reported about the ceasefire, but the report...

Israeli tanks attacked three Islamic Jihad military posts in the Gaza Strip Tuesday afternoon. An IDF spokesperson stated: "A short while ago, IDF tanks targeted three PIJ military posts in the Gaza Strip." The Israeli Air Force has also bombed numerous Islamic Jihad targets in Gaza in response to the firing of dozens of rockets by the terrorist organization. "IDF fighter jets and aircraft recently struck a number of PIJ terror targets in the Gaza Strip. Among the sites struck were a training compound and underground weapons manufacturing and storage sites," the IDF announced Tuesday in a statement. "The IDF...

Terrorists in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip fired approximately 50 rockets at Israel Tuesday morning, following the elimination of a senior Islamic Jihad terrorist in Gaza. As of 9:10 a.m. (Israel time), some 50 rocket launches were reported, while Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system fired approximately 20 missiles at incoming rockets. Three Israelis were reported injured as a result of the rocket attacks, including two suffering from shock, and a third injured while running to a bomb shelter. A home in southern Israel was struck by a rocket, which scored a direct hit on the building. Sirens were sounded in...

Khalil al-Hayya, a senior member of the Hamas terrorist organization in Gaza, on Tuesday said Israel bore full responsibility for the deterioration of the situation due to what he called “Israeli procrastination in the implementation of the understandings regarding the lull.” "The game of the occupation regarding the fishing area and the cessation of fuel supply to the power plant bring the understandings to a very dangerous situation with grave consequences," al-Hayya warned. Israel restricted the permitted fishing area in the Gaza Strip and, on Tuesday, stopped fuel deliveries to the power station in Gaza. The moves are in response...

Sderot Mayor Alon Davidi criticized the ceasefire agreement reached with Hamas, asserting that only an operation like “Protective Edge” will achieve long-term quiet. In an interview Tuesday morning with “Ha’olam Ha’boker" on Channel 13, Davidi said that "We don’t need to respond. We need to initiate.” "The reality is complex. We see the real heroes, the parents and the children, the older people who fight against the terrorism that comes from Gaza, and we have to strengthen them and tell them ‘good job,’ and we continue to develop the city and the region, but we have to remember that Protective...

Two hundred rockets were fired from Gaza into Israel on Saturday, and Israel's Iron Dome system intercepted dozens of them. Air raid sirens sounded in Gaza-area towns, as well as in Beit Shemesh and other Jerusalem-area towns. Rockets also landed in the courtyards of a home and school in Kiryat Gat. "We can confirm that the Palestinian Islamic Jihad together with Hamas are responsible for firing 200 rockets from Gaza at Israeli civilians over the last 8 hours," an IDF statement read. An 80-year-old woman was severely injured in Kiryat Gat, after suffering shrapnel wounds to her face. It is...

Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCf6ds4iJjo Approximately 40,000 rioters and demonstrators gathered Saturday in several locations along the Gaza security fence, the IDF reported. The rioters hurled rocks and set tires on fire. In addition, a number of grenades and explosive devices were hurled at the Gaza-Israel security fence in a number of different incidents. Most of the demonstrators are near the tents Gaza. IDF troops responded with riot dispersal means and fired in accordance with standard operating procedures. .....