JERUSALEM (TNA)–The IDF thwarted on Tuesday evening, July 8, an attempted infiltration by terrorists via the sea. Four Hamas terrorists were spotted on their way to a beach on Israel’s southern shores, their final objective the Kibbutz of Zikim. The terrorists were spotted while diving from Gaze’s shores and were stopped by IDF infantry who ambushed them on the Israeli shore. All terrorists were killed in the gunfight that ensued. One soldier was lightly wounded. Judging by the amount of weapons the terrorists were carrying they probably intended to inflict severe damage to the civilian population of the kibbutz and the surrounding towns.
All residents in the environs of the attack were ordered to stay in their homes and masses of security forces are currently blocking off the area. A security official has announced that the incident has not yet been concluded. They may be searching for further terrorists.
Earlier on Tuesday, the IDF Spokesman announced it had attacked a vehicle in which a Hamas terrorist named Mohammed Shaaban, 24, of Jabalya, had been traveling. Shaaban was a trainer and commander of Hamas’s naval commando force in northern Gaza. Two other people were inside the vehicle when it was struck, the IDF said. He may have trained the terrorists who made the failed attempt Tuesday evening.
Elsewhere, less than 24 hours since Israel launched its counteroffensive “Protective Edge” in response to increased rocket fire from Gaza, a rocket was fired from Gaza at Tel Aviv and was intercepted by the Iron Dome defense system over the city of Rishon LeZion early Tuesday evening
Earlier on the Iron Dome defense system intercepted a rocket fired from Gaza to Gedera, a big town south of Tel Aviv. At the same time, rockets fired at Ashkelon and elsewhere were intercepted as well. Sirens were heard in all of the Dan Region: in Tel Aviv, Givatayim, Petah Tikvah, Nes Tziona, Giv’at Shmuel, Yehud, and more. The Islamic Jihad took responsibility for firing the rocket at Tel Aviv.
The interceptions were conducted shortly after Defense Minister Moshe (Bogi) Ya’alon briefed heads of local councils in the center of Israel to prepare for rockets from Gaza.
As rockets set off warning alarms increasingly closer to the center of the country, the Home Front Command instructed the city of Tel Aviv to open all public bomb shelters and all the beaches of the city of Rishon LeZion were evacuated. Furthermore, the Dov Airport in Tel Aviv is closed for takeoffs.
Due to non-stop rocket fire from Gaza, Barzilai Hospital in the southern city of Ashkelon has decided earlier Tuesday, after consulting the Home Front Command and the Health Ministry, to evacuate premature babies and newborns to sheltered spaces. It has stated that if necessary, in tandem with further developments, the hospital management will consider evacuating more patients to sheltered spaces.
An IDF spokesperson stated that throughout Monday night and Tuesday morning, its forces have attacked over 140 terror targets in Gaza. Among the targets were four houses of Hamas operatives who are involved in terror operations and in firing of rockets towards Israel’s civilian population.
The Jerusalem Municipality is preparing for any scenario and has decided to open its public bomb shelters within the next few hours.
Israeli PM Binyamin Netanyahu stated that: “Israel is in the midst of a battle for the restitution of quiet and security to our citizens. We will not tolerate rockets being fired at our cities and communities. For this reason, I have ordered a significant expansion of IDF’s operations against Hamas terrorists and the terrorists of any other terror organization in Gaza. I have ordered so only after all other attempts for the restitution of peace have failed, and Hamas chose escalation. The IDF is aiming its attacks only against the Hamas terrorists, not against innocent civilians. Hamas, however, deliberately hides behind Palestinian citizens, and because of that Hamas is the one responsible when innocents are accidentally hurt. We are determined to restore peace and quiet and are acting firmly to achieve our goal so that our citizens and children may live safely”.
Since the launch of “Protective Edge” on Monday night, over 130 rockets have been fired into Israel from the Gaza Strip. Ongoing firing from Gaza into southern Israel found Israeli Air Force targeting military installations manned and run by the different terrorist groups in the Gaza Strip. These same terrorist groups have been firing on heavily populated cities and towns in southern Israel including Sderot, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Be’er Sheva and many more. This notion of firing missiles into cities is the “new terrorism”. What Hamas used a decade ago in suicide bombers has now been replaced by missiles. It is of significance to note that these beleaguered cities are not near Israeli military insaillations. The targets are purely civilian
Despite the escalating security situation in Israel, 64 new Olim from the United States made aliyah to Israel today with Nefesh B’Nefesh. The new immigrants hail from Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Virginia.
The youngest immigrant is an eight-month-old baby while the oldest, Lottie Herman, is 92. Herman who fled Germany in 1939 to America, will be settling in Jerusalem.
Among the other olim who arrived this morning was Becky Kupchan, 26, from Chicago. Kupchan will be moving to Beer Sheva, the capital city of Southern Israel.
“Although the security situation in Israel is very tense right now, and in Beer Sheva where I’m about to move rockets are falling, I am not afraid and I trust the Israeli government and the IDF,” said Kupchan, after she arrived at Ben-Gurion Airport. “I’m a Jew and I’ve always dreamed about making Aliyah to Israel, my home — and at home you always feel safe.”
“The Olim who’ve chosen to make Aliya to Israel during these challenging days are real heroes, and each one of them fills our heart with pride and great inspiration,” said Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Nefesh B’Nefesh. “Becky from Chicago, who has chosen to live in the city of Beer Sheva in the South, is one of them and we will do whatever we can to assist her in her new home in the State of Israel.”
The aliyah of Tuesday’s group was made in partnership with the Ministry of Aliyah and Immigrant Absorption, the Jewish Agency for Israel, KKL and JNF-USA, and Nefesh B’Nefesh.
According to Nefesh B’Nefesh 97% of its olim have remained in Israel thanks to its support programs and comprehensive social services to more than 38,000 newcomers.
The new Israeli citizens will be moving to Beit Shemesh, Givat Shmuel, Hadera, Jerusalem, Karmiel, Modiin, Nes Tziona, Ra’anana, Ramat Beit Shemesh, Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv and Beer Sheva.
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Preceding provided by Tazpit News Agency staff writers Yaniv Hasidoff, Ariella Segal , Zvi Resnick, and Anav Silverman