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LIVE BLOG DAY 17: Operation Protective Edge [UPDATED 11:50 PM IL]


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23:50: 1 Palestinian has been killed, at least 21 wounded in major clashes ongoing right now at the Kalandiya checkpoint in Israel. This is the largest Palestinian protest in many years.

23:40: Channel 2 News poll one week into ground operation:

Should the operation continue or stop?

46% Continue until Hamas is brought down

41% Stop now

Will there be quiet in southern Israel after the operation?

56% no

37% yes

Are you satisfied with the performance of PM Netanyahu?

82% yes (up from 57% a week ago)

10 no

23:10: Thousands of Palestinians are protesting and marching from Ramallah toward Jerusalem

22:52: Polish airline LOT resumes flights to Israel –

22:51: Two officers lightly wounded in Temple Mount riots.

22:23: Iron Dome has intercepted rockets fired from Egypt’s Sinai into Eilat, B’chasdei Hashem there have been no injuries reported.

22:14: Brazil Recalls Its Ambassador To Israel. The Brazilian Ministry of External Relations released a statement saying: “We strongly condemn the disproportionate use of force by Israel in the Gaza Strip.” Spokesman for Israel’s Foreign Ministry Yigal Palmor responded: “This is an unfortunate demonstration of why Brazil, an economic and cultural giant, remains a diplomatic dwarf.”

22:11: Code red sirens in Eilat, seek shelter immediately.

22:06:US Secretary of State John Kerry will not stay in the Middle East indefinitely trying to broker a ceasefire to halt the Gaza conflict and will decide soon whether the parties are willing to come to an agreement, a senior US official said on Thursday.

“Gaps remain between the parties, so his focus is on finding a formula that both sides can accept,” said the senior US official. “But he isn’t here for an indefinite amount of time and in the near future he will determine whether there is a willingness to come to an agreement on a ceasefire.”

21:37: Arab youths are  rioting in Jerusalem’s Old City.

21:22: Lufthansa extends suspension of flights to Tel Aviv by 24 hours.

21:00: UN staff killed in attack on UN school — Ban

20:12: One person lightly wounded when a rocket fell near a greenhouse in the Eshkol region. Other rockets landed in open areas

19:55: The Iron Dome has just intercepted a rocket in the Chof Ashkelon region.

19:48: According to multiple reports, there have been more than 80 Gazans killed in IDF strikes on terror targets so far today.

19:43: A barrage of rockets were just fired at Beersheva and surrounding areas. There are no injuries reported.

19:35: Four rockets have just landed in the Eshkol Regional Council area. There is damage to a local shul.

19:00: Red alerts are ringing in Eshkol Regional Council area.

18:46: Arab MKs are not attending the presidential swearing-in ceremony of Reuven Rivlin.

18:37: A rocket has fallen in a S’dot Negev Council kibbutz. B”H there are no reports of fatalities, injuries or damage.

18:33: Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein begins the ceremony with a mi’sheberach for IDF soldiers. 

18:29: The ceremony that will conclude with Reuven Rivlin taking the oath of office to become Israel’s 10th president will get underway in the Knesset in the coming minutes. The event is a tapered down version of the standard ceremony as Rivlin felt the planned event was out of place while the nation is at war.

In his address, outgoing President Shimon Peres has harsh words for the international community during Operation Protective Edge.

18:27: Channel 2 Arab Affairs Correspondent Ehud Ya’ari reports the area UNRWA spokesman reports that Hamas rockets were fired near the UNRWA school in Beit Hanoun. The IDF is investigating the reported incident in which 15 children were killed and many people wounded.

18:25: IDF SPOKESMAN: Since the start of the operation, 3,454 targets were hit, 31 tunnels revealed, of which 11 have been rendered non-usable.

18:10: UNICEF reports 181 children have been killed in Gaza to date during Operation Protective Edge.

18:04: Sirens in Netiv HaAsarah and Yad Mordechai.

17:44: At least one rocket intercepted earlier in the Kiryat Malachi area.

17:26: Another round of rocket fire to the Ashdod area.

17:23: Two rockets intercepted and one landed in an open area in the last rocket attack in the W. Negev.

17:11: Senior Arab affairs analyst Ehud Ya’ari comments “I don’t believe Hamas has reached a breaking point. That would require a different type of operation, one that I am not sure is approved”.

17:10: UNRWA spokesman in Gaza Adnan Abu Hasana says there was no IDF warning before the Beit Hanoun school was hit. It is added that the IDF was informed of the location and status of the school, citing the death toll is 15, primarily children, and over 200 wounded.

17:06: Sirens to the Ashkelon and Beersheva districts. Sirens sounding numerous times in some areas!

16:55: Four IDF soldiers have been discharged from Beilinson Hospital today. An additional 19 have been discharged earlier B”H. Some of them explain they have not been home since the start of Operation Brothers Return, some two months ago, and yet they are trying to rejoin their units rather than heading home to convalesce.

16:49: The IDF has attacked 90 targets since last night. This includes rocket launchers, observation posts and Hamas military infrastructure.

  • Paratroopers apprehended two terrorists detected exited a tunnel.
  • Another team of soldiers shot and killed a terrorist wearing a bomb belt.
  • An anti-tank rocket was fired at soldiers near the ruins of Wafa Hospital.
  • Another siren in the Ashdod district at this time.

16:43: Fifty-one wounded hospitalized in Soroka Medical Center, of which four are in serious/life-threatening condition.

16:43: Rockets landed in open areas in the Eshkol Regional Council without causing fatalities or injuries B”H.

16:41: The Midrash relates that during the Jewish war against Midian (Bamidbar ch. 31), every soldier that went out to battle had another person designated to daven and study Torah for him.

Rabbi Moshe Sternbuch of Jerusalem explains: If the Almighty shows us miracles and we do not respond by strengthening ourselves spiritually… then we are handed over to the forces of natural law and the missiles inexplicably will begin to hit their targets with greater frequency. That means the lives of our fellow Jews – our brothers and sisters living in Israel – are in mortal danger.
That is why we must raise our level of consciousness of God’s Presence, to the point where we become worthy of supernatural treatment.

16:37: Israel Broadcasting Arab Affairs Correspondent Gal Berger reports a Gaza health official places the death toll in the UNRWA school at 15 with over 200 wounded. The wounded were transported to three Gaza hospitals.

16:35: Two rockets were intercepted over Barzilai Hospital. There are no injuries being reported in the last wave of rocket fire.

16:30: Additional sirens to Ashkelon communities in addition to the Eshkol communities.

16:28: Sirens in Nitzanim, Be’er Ganim, Ashkelon, the industrial are and the surrounding communities.

16:24: CHANNEL 2: It is estimated that 1,500-3,000 Israelis remain stranded in Turkey. Israel is working to get four flights to there today but it is uncertain if this will occur.

16:19: The Israeli media reports the EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) has lifted the travel advisory to Israel.

16:15: Sirens in Kibbutz Kerem Shalom.

  • Gaza reports 150 injured in artillery attack on UNRWA school in Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza.

16:10: Heavy fighting between IDF and terrorists in the Rafiach area of southern Gaza.

  • Talks on Wednesday of another humanitarian ceasefire do not seem to be advancing.

15:33: The cabinet is convening at this time. The prime minister commented to the media prior to the start of the meeting. Following are highlights of  his remarks.

• IDF continues operating in Gaza at this time
• The IDF has delivered a significant blow to Hamas
• Operation Protective Edge continue from the ground and air
• There is significant success in locating and eliminating tunnels
• I convey my appreciation and regard for the fighting forces and condolences to the families of the fallen, as well as wishes for a total recovery to all the wounded. I visited with many of them.
• I would like to thank and commend the citizens of Israel for their support and warmth towards IDF forces.

15:30: Gaza sources report ten dead in a strike at an UNRWA school in Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza. There are no details or confirmation.

15:17: A fire resulted in the Moav Regional Council following a rocket explosion in that area in the last attack.

14:45: A number of European carriers announce they are joining American carriers and resuming air service to and from Tel Aviv.

14:33: A rocket exploded in the Yoav Regional Council resulting in property damage. B’chasdei Hashem there are no reports of fatalities or injuries.

14:22: Sirens in Yad Mordechai and surrounding communities.

14:19: The rockets were intercepted above Kiryat Gat in the last attack.

14:08: At least three rockets fired in the last attack were intercepted by the Iron Dome.

14:06: Gaza reports over 700 dead and 4,000 injured.

  • The IAF continues striking terrorist targets at this time.
  • Hamas releases a statement that it targeted Ben-Gurion Airport in the rocket attacks directed at Gush Dan earlier in the day.

14:02: Sirens in Kiryat Malachi, Ashdod, Ashkelon regions and the surrounding areas. Multiple sirens in some areas. In some areas explosions are reported but sirens were not heard.

14:01: Sirens in Zikim and Karmiya.

13:57: French President Francois Hollande announced his country will give €11 million in aid for Gaza residents. The aid will be given to government agencies operating in the region

13:28: Air France announces it is not resuming flights and that is the airline’s position until further notice.

13:23: Thousands took part in the levaya for fallen IDF soldier Sgt. First Class Shachar Dauber HY”D, 19, from Kibbutz Ginegar

12:48: Ben-Gurion University cancels classes and exams that were scheduled for next week.

12:47: Four rockets were intercepted over Netivot in another attack a few minutes ago.

12:46: Arab media reports that Egyptian soldiers fired at a terrorist at Kerem Shalom that was on his way to carrying out a suicide attack.

12:35: Heavy IDF anti-terrorist activity reported in Beit Hanoun and Jabalya in northern Gaza and Rafiach in southern Gaza.

12:29: IDF Brig.-Gen. (reserves) Amal Assad explained to Channel 2 News that while the entire world is concerned for the women and children of Gaza, Hamas remains a terrorist organization that is genuinely uninterested in the civilian population.

  • He added that it should be clear to all by now that Arab leaders are concerned with themselves and not their people. “If we want to see a moderate leadership rule over Gaza then Hamas must be eliminated”.
  • “If Hamas had invested the money above ground instead of for tunnels, the entire picture would be a different one today”.
  • “We must permit the innocent people to leave and then go into Shefa Hospital and get each and every one of their leaders.

12:17: El Al and Arkia Airlines are sending special flights to Turkey to get stranded travelers out of that country as quickly as possible.

12:15: Update from Uvda Airport

  • Channel 2 News reports the situation in the Negev airport is “simply chaos”.
  • People in Uvda Airport are fainting and in distress.
  • There is no air conditioning and not even water.
  • The check in process “is taking hours”.
  • There is no logical explanation for this total chaos taking place.

12:10: Update on the wounded

  • Barzilai Hospital: 12 wounded of which 11 are in light condition
  • Sheba Medical Center: 2 admitted during the morning with a total of 24, of which 13 are in moderate condition
  • Beilinson Hospital: A total of 28 wounded with 1 in serious condition
  • Soroka Medical Center: 4 wounded arrived during the night. There is a total of 51 hospitalized with 4 in serious conditions.

11:53: Rocket fragments landed in streets of Tel Aviv.

11:43: Following the death in a rocket attack of the Thai farm worker in Kibbutz Netiv HaAsarah, the Defense Ministry plans to bring additional portable shelters to the area kibbutzim in the hope of cutting the distance farm workers have to run for cover. The victim was running to a shelter on Wednesday when the rocket struck him.

11:40: Nine people were  injured lightly in the rocket attacks earlier to the Gush Dan, Shvelah, and Sharon regions. Two of the victims fell while running for cover. An additional seven people are being treated for hysteria.

11:39: The Iron Dome intercepted rocket fire in the Sderot area.

11:35: Sirens at this time in Sderot and surrounding area communities.

11:31: Some European carriers have agreed to resume flights to Israel. Read the report.

11:18: Sirens sounding in Tel Aviv, Yaffo, Kfar HaYarok, Herzliya, Ramat HaSharon and surrounding areas.

11:12: One again, HKBH has protected us with his true Iron Dome as rockets fired into major population centers were intercepted and there are no reports of injuries. Clearly Hamas is trying to continue firing into the areas near Ben-Gurion International Airport in the hope of shutting down international air travel to Tel Aviv .

11:03: B”H at present there are no reports of fatalities or wounded from Magen David Adom or Ichud Hatzalah at this time. Two rockets have been intercepted by the Iron Dome over Holon and over Bilu Junction in the Shvelah region.

10:58: Sirens sounding in Rishon L’Tzion, Kfar Sava, Ramat HaSharon Ra’anana, Petach Tikvah, Holon, Bat Yam, Bnei Brak. The entire Sharon/Dan region. There are multiple sirens in some of the areas.

10:37: The IDF is directing artillery fire into Shajaia and Beit Hanoun. A number of soldiers have been lightly wounded in the fighting this morning.

10:19: Brazil has condemned the IDF counter-terrorism operation in Gaza and has recalled its ambassador to Israel for consultations

09:26: 109 IDF soldiers and officers remain hospitalized this morning including;

  • Four soldiers arrived at Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon today
  • Two wounded were transported to Tel Hashomer hospital where there are 22 soldiers hospitalized, 12 in moderate condition.
  • There are 43 soldiers are in Soroka Hospital in Beersheva, with 4 in serious condition.
  • There are 28 soldiers in Beilinson Hospital in Petach Tikvah including 1 in serious condition.

09:24: Three IDF wounded arrive in Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon by chopper. There is no information on their conditions at present. In addition to the three, there are 12 soldiers admitted to the hospital.

08:29: Reuven Rivlin will be sworn in today as Israel’s 10th president .

08:22: Sirens sounded in the Eshkol and Shar HaNegev Regional Councils a short time ago.

07:14: The FAA lifts flight restrictions for Ben-Gurion International Airport. Read the alert.

07:06: A senior IDF source reports that to date, 31 tunnels were discovered in Gaza, of which nine were destroyed or neutralized.

07:01: IDF SPOKESMAN: Hamas has fired more than 2,270 rockets at Israel since July 8th. That is more than 140 rockets a day for 16 days.

06:53: Four rockets exploded in the Eshkol Regional Council area during the night.

06:50: In a sign of solidarity, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat instructed the municipality to display thousands of national flags around the capital.

06:39: Gaza reports 16 people were killed by IDF forces during the night.

06:38: The levaya for IDF soldier Sgt. Li Mat is scheduled to take place on Thursday, 26 Tammuz at 18:00 in the Har Herzl Military Cemetery in Jerusalem.

06:33: US media reports the FAA is considering removing ban on flights to Tel Aviv.

00:20: Late Wednesday evening, Finance Minister Yair Lapid told the media that the cabinet may decide to retake Gaza in order to completely root out the terrorist threat and destroy their infrastructure.

00:08: Turkey’s national carrier has extended its suspension of direct flights to Tel Aviv for another day for security reasons due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, Turkey’s communications minister says.

UPDATE: 12:20AM IL: With the clock striking midnight on Wednesday evening / Thursday morning, Israel has now entered “Day 17 of Operation Protective Edge”. Stay with YWN as we continue our non-stop 24 hour news coverage – updated just seconds after an event occurs.

CLICK HERE FOR THE YWN LIVE BLOG FROM DAY 16 OF OPERATION PROTECTIVE EDGE

CLICK HERE FOR THE YWN LIVE BLOG FROM DAY 15 OF OPERATION PROTECTIVE EDGE

CLICK HERE FOR THE YWN LIVE BLOG FROM DAY 14 OF OPERATION PROTECTIVE EDGE

CLICK HERE FOR THE YWN LIVE BLOG FROM DAY 13 OF OPERATION PROTECTIVE EDGE

CLICK HERE FOR THE YWN LIVE BLOG FROM DAY 12 OF OPERATION PROTECTIVE EDGE

CLICK HERE FOR THE YWN LIVE BLOG FROM DAY 11 OF OPERATION PROTECTIVE EDGE

CLICK HERE FOR THE YWN LIVE BLOG FROM DAY 10 OF OPERATION PROTECTIVE EDGE

CLICK HERE FOR THE YWN LIVE BLOG FROM DAY 9 OF OPERATION PROTECTIVE EDGE

CLICK HERE FOR THE YWN LIVE BLOG FROM DAY 8 OF OPERATION PROTECTIVE EDGE

CLICK HERE FOR THE YWN LIVE BLOG FROM DAY 7 OF OPERATION PROTECTIVE EDGE

CLICK HERE FOR THE YWN LIVE BLOG FROM DAY 6 OF OPERATION PROTECTIVE EDGE

CLICK HERE FOR THE YWN LIVE BLOG FROM DAY 5 OF OPERATION PROTECTIVE EDGE

CLICK HERE FOR THE YWN LIVE BLOG FROM DAY 4 OF OPERATION PROTECTIVE EDGE

CLICK HERE FOR THE YWN LIVE BLOG FROM DAY 3 OF OPERATION PROTECTIVE EDGE

CLICK HERE FOR THE YWN LIVE BLOG FROM DAY 2 OF OPERATION PROTECTIVE EDGE

CLICK HERE FOR THE YWN LIVE BLOG FROM DAY 1 OF OPERATION PROTECTIVE EDGE



18 Responses

  1. Enough is enough!
    Finish up the job today and vacation tomorrow!
    Children needn’t live in fear of rockets! Clean up the mess!

  2. we should of never gave it to them in the first place the disengagement was a big mistake now they are see the consequences we should retake it is our land

  3. So Brazil is recalling its Ambassador to Israel. Is this the same Brazil that constantly “repossesses” i.e. steals land that native groups have dwelt on and farmed for centuries? Shame on them!

  4. I really think Gaza should be reoccupied again to bring peace to Israel. I am a Nigerian, I know how much Boko Haram evil have done to the people -many lives lost. These terrorists are unrepentant and unreasonable like the UN. Because they don’t experience what Israel is going through they criticise Israel. With the foreign intervention in Nigeria were they able to bring back tjhe girls? Terror is terror. No alternative but to destroy it. ISRAEL FIGHT ON. I strongly support you. Nigerians support you too.

  5. Aaaahhh the French. They are sending 11 million euro in “civilian aid” to the “government agencies operating in Gaza” (ie hamas). Gotta love those “humanitarians”.

  6. CNN reports that “At least 58 people were killed in Iraq after armed men believed to be ISIS fighters ambushed a convoy moving prisoners outside of Baghdad Thursday police officials told CNN.” Where is Wanky Moon now? Where are the US Secretary of State and the British Foreign Secretary? Lucky Hamas are not up against the ISIS “fighters”. They would teach them what it is to be tracked down and fought mercilessly. World, just carry on screaming at the Jews in Palestine; the killers and the killed in Baghdad are all arabs so there is no one to blame.

  7. Update from Ovda Airport: There is no logical explanation for this total chaos taking place.Sure there is. The IDF is a very disiplined fighting machine that has the ability to plan and carry out those plans. No other body in Israel can do that. The move to open Ovda was a political PR move. Ovda was originally built as a military airport. It now serves as the destination for a few daily commercial flights to Eilat, although it is still also used by the air force. Having been there I can tell you that it simply does not have the capacity or the facilities to take over even a small part of the Ben Gurion traffic. And which of the US and European legacy carriers will want to have their planes land at an airport the IAF uses?

  8. EY is never going to win the PR war until v’haya HaShem l’melech al kol ha’aretz so they should give up on being so tactful. CARPET BOMB GAZA BACK TO AVROHOM AVINU DAYS!

  9. Just an FYI the photo on top is not an actual photo of the operation, just a stock training photo. you can see non of the rifles have magazines in them and the guy in the front has a red piece of plastic in the muzzle showing its unloaded

  10. U r right mr kerry there a major gaps one side thrives on violence while one side hates it lets c if u can. Figure it out

  11. I think we should have taking a page from that book ans gone riiotiing when the three boys were. Kidnapped
    What a bunch of Animals

  12. Can you clarify the midrash about every person going out to fight having someone designated to daven and learn for him? Where is the source? There is no medrash on chapter 31 in Bamidbar…

  13. The Israeli political echelon understands that Gaza cannot be re-occupied on a lion g term basis. It understands that the best that can be hoped for is a Hamas, i.e. terrorist, free economically prosperous Gaza that will put “the Islamic struggle for the whole land of Palestine” on the back burner. The Egyptians want the same thing. The last thing they want at their back door is a terrorist entity run by Hamas. That is why the Gaza boredr with Egypt has remained sealed. In this context, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said in part, at a breaking of the Ramadan fast with Egyptian journalists: “The Egyptian people are very sympathetic towards the Palestinian people, and Egypt will never hesitate to support them. The Palestinian people realize that the Egyptian people loves and supports it. Egypt is capable of dealing with Hamas as it [also] preserves both its own rights and the rights of its people.” He added: “Whoever opposed Egypt’s initiative bears responsibility for the current situation.” Instead of wasting his time working on a ceasefire, Kerry should be stoking the fire and actively encouraging the Egyptians to help Israel destroy Hamas. That will involve the Americans promising money, a lot of money, to help rebuild Gaza after it is destroyed. That is a strategy that might just give Israel and Egypt what they both want: a quiet Gaza strip which Hamas has been driven out of. Forget Wanky Moon and the UN; they have no part in this. A joint Israeli-Egyptian axis may also appeal to the British. They are used to destroying to chase out evil and then helping to build again. Look what they did to Hamburg and Dresden during World War 2, and what they did afterwards.

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