Gazans Infiltrate Israel, Set Fire To Defense Equipment
Palestinian terrorists from the Gaza Strip cut through the border fence and infiltrated southern Israel Sunday evening (3rd), before setting ablaze a container that stored equipment for the construction of an anti-tunnel barrier along the border.
The group returned to the Strip after lighting the fire. Nobody was injured but damage was caused to security infrastructure.
(ynetnews.com)
Incendiary Kites From Gaza Cause 4 Fires In Israel Saturday
Four air tankers and 12 firefighting teams battled a massive blaze that broke out in the Karmie Nature Preserve on Saturday afternoon (2nd) because of an incendiary kite flown from Gaza.
According to initial estimates, between 2,000 and 3,000 dunams of the reserve and its surrounding area were damaged in the fire.
Also today’s authorities in Israel are battling helium balloons from Gaza carrying long-burning materials like charcoal. The balloons are capable of flying several kilometers into Israel and sparking fires at a farther distance.
(timesofisrael.com)
Israel: PA Taxes Will Pay For Arson Damage In South
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed the head of the National Security Council, Meir Shabbat, to prepare to dock the Palestinian Authority for the cost of damages caused to farmers along the Gaza border by flammable kites launched from the Strip.
The funds will come from tax Israel collects for the Palestinian Authority under the terms of the 1994 Paris accords signed between the sides as part of the Oslo Peace Accords. Israel collects some $150 million a month on imported goods constituting some 75% of total collection by the PA.
The move comes following weeks of cross border arson attacks using firebombs, kites doused in petrol, and helium balloons carrying long-burning charcoal, which have set fire to thousands of acres of mostly wheat crops causing millions of shekels in damages.
(worldisraelnews.com)
IDF Stops Terror Cell From Infiltrating Israel
A terror cell crossed the Gaza border into Israel on Saturday morning (2nd) in the southern part of the Strip and tried to sabotage security structure on the other side.
An IDF force identified the terrorists and opened fire at them, prompting them to flee back into Gaza.
“The Hamas terror organization is trying again and again to turn the border fence area into one of violence and fighting both underground and above the ground,” the IDF said in a statement. “The IDF will not allow this and will continue to act to ensure the safety of the residents of the State of Israel.”
(ynetnews.com)
Despite Ceasefire, Rockets Fired At Israel From Gaza
The Israeli army’s Iron Dome missile defense system intercepted a rocket fired at southern Israel by a terrorist group in the Gaza Strip on Saturday night (2nd), the military said.
A second rocket was also launched around the same time, but apparently fell on the Palestinian side of the Gaza border, according to the Israel Defense Forces. There were no injuries reported.
(israelhayom.com; ap.com)
IDF Bombs 15 Hamas Targets In Response To Rocket Fire From Gaza
Israeli Air Force jets carried out 15 airstrikes against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip late Saturday night (2nd) and Sunday morning (3rd), the IDF Spokesperson reported.
The strikes were in retaliation for rockets and mortars fired toward southern Israeli communities earlier Saturday evening (2nd) and Sunday morning (3rd), including attempts to damage the security border fence and using burning kites to set fields on fire within Israel, the IDF Spokesperson reported.
(worldisraelnews.com)
U.S. Vetoes UN Resolution On ‘Protecting” Palestinians
The United States on Friday (1st) vetoed a UN Security Council resolution proposed by Kuwait that called for the “protection” of Palestinian Arabs in Gaza, Judea and Samaria.
China, France and Russia were among the 10 countries that voted in favor of the draft. Four countries abstained.
At the same time, the Security Council rejected a U.S-drafted measure condemning the Hamas terrorist group for the recent violence in Gaza.
(israelnn.com)
Palestinian Authority Threatens To Cut Security Ties With Israel If Gaza Blockade Is Lifted
The Palestinian Authority (PA) has threatened to sever security cooperation with Israel if the blockade on the Gaza Strip is lifted, according to the Palestine Information Center. The news site reported that the PA intelligence chief Majed Faraj sent a letter to his Israeli counterpart Nadav Argaman warning him against any action that would help alleviate the suffering of the population in Gaza.
The warning allegedly came after reports surfaced that Egypt and Qatar would help mediate a long-term truce between Israel and Hamas that would relax the blockade, now in its eleventh year.
Such a plan is thought to be detrimental to the interests of the PA, which seeks to pressure Hamas into handing over control of the Gaza Strip.
(middleeastmonitor.com)
Ramming Attack Thwarted In Hebron, Terrorist Killed
An IDF force foiled an attempted ramming attack in the city of Hebron Saturday morning (2nd), killing the terrorist in the process.
The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit stated that the terrorist tried to run over soldiers who were in the area, and the force responded with gunfire.
There were no casualties among the soldiers.
(jpost.com)
U.S. Navy: China Out, Vietnam And Israel In For “Rim Of The Pacific” Naval Exercise In Hawaii – Wyatt Olson
The U.S. Navy announced on Wednesday (5/30) that 26 nations, 47 surface ships, five submarines, 18 national land forces, and more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel will participate in the biennial RIMPAC being held June 27th through Aug.2nd. This would mark the first time Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Brazil and Israel have joined the drills, the Navy said.
(stripes.com)
