1,374 Palestinian, 59 Israeli deaths
The Palestinian death toll reaches 1,374 on day 24 of the 2014 Gaza conflict as at least 10 people are killed in Israeli strikes and three more die of existing injuries, emergency services spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra says. Fifty-six Israeli soldiers have died in fighting and rocket fire has killed two Israeli civilians and a Thai migrant worker inside Israel.
86,000 reservists
An Israel Defense Forces official says the military has called up an additional 16,000 reservists on day 24 of Operation Protective Edge, in order ‘to give the army the time needed to complete the mission.’ This brings the total number called up during the campaign to 86,000.
We’ll decide today where to place them and in which commands
‘Two hours of electricity’
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says Gaza residents are receiving extremely limited supplies of electricity after Israeli shells are said to knock out the territory’s only power plant. UNOCHA:
Gaza city is receiving electricity for about two hours a day, while localities in the Middle Area have no supply at all […] According to the Palestinian Energy Authority, repairs could take months to complete, exacerbating the Gazan electricity crisis. This will affect private households, companies, and public services provision, including water, sanitation and health facilities. Hospitals will depend more heavily on their own diesel-powered generators, which are not adequate to power services for extended periods. Previously, hospital generators have burned out with extensive use, and power fluctuations damage finely calibrated medical equipment
Calls for immediate ceasefire
Abbott calls on both sides to cease hostilities:
It should be a ceasefire immediately by both sides. That’s what there should be, because plainly, too many people are dying. It’s just wrong what’s happening, so there should be a ceasefire
Canberra’s support for Israel isn’t unconditional
[…] they’re capable of making mistakes just like everyone else is, but no one intends, or should intend, any attack which results in the death of innocent people
that’s got to go hand-in-hand with the recognition of Israel’s right to exist behind secure borders. The problem in the Middle East is that in the end so many people are not prepared to accept Israel’s right to exist.
Rouhani: ‘Zionist tumor’
0 0 reuben reuben2014-08-01 12:56:092014-08-01 13:04:09Rouhani: ‘Zionist tumor’Access to U.S. arsenal
The Pentagon confirms that Israel has been allowed to draw tank shells and illumination rounds from a cache of U.S. arms and equipment stored on Israeli soil. Known as the War Reserves Stock Allies-Israel program or WRSA-1, the billion-dollar reserve was established as part of expanded mutual cooperation during the 1980s and can be accessed with U.S. approval, according to a report from the Congressional Research Service the last time Israel was allowed to tap the stockpile was during the 2006 Lebanon war against Hezbollah.
Paris riot police deploy
Hundreds of riot police deploy near the Israeli embassy as several thousand demonstrators turn out in Paris for France’s first pro-Israel rally of the 2014 Gaza conflict. Among signs carried by protestors:
Gaza hostage of Hamas
The protest comes amid reports that France may ban the Jewish Defence League, or LDJ, blamed for provoking violence at pro-Palestinian rallies.
Only 3-4% Israelis say excessive firepower used
A survey conducted by the Israel Democracy Institute and Tel Aviv University on three separate occasions between 14 and 23 July shows that only 3-4% agreed with a statement that the Israel Defence Forces have used excessive firepower in the conflict.
The majority of Israeli Jewish public see an existential threat in the rockets and tunnels. There is no pressure on people – this is authentic support. People think this is a just war.
Video shows ‘weapons, tunnel’ in mosque
The IDF releases a video it says shows militarization of a mosque:
While operating in Gaza against Hamas, IDF soldiers found a mosque that contained many weapons. Furthermore, two tunnel openings were found in the bottom floor, which was also the prayer area
Will destroy tunnels ‘with or without ceasefire’
Netanyahu says that destruction of Hamas tunnels will proceed regardless of the status of a ceasefire agreement. In Tel Aviv ahead of a fourth Knesset meeting to discuss the 2014 Gaza conflict:
We are determined to complete this mission with or without a ceasefire. I won’t agree to any proposal that will not enable the Israeli military to complete this important task for the sake of Israel’s security
UN school strike kills 19
Gaza officials say that at least 19 Palestinians die and 90 are wounded as a school run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency is struck by Israeli shells. The Israel Defense Forces says regarding its ongoing investigation:
Hamas militants fired mortar shells from the vicinity of the school, and [Israeli] soldiers responded by firing towards the origins of the fire
A Palestinian child, wounded in an Israeli strike on a UN school in Beit Lahia, Gaza, lies in Kamal Edwan hospital pic.twitter.com/1tLo549jZb
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) July 30, 2014
4-hour ceasefire
0 CommentsThe Israel Defense Forces schedules a humanitarian ceasefire for 3-7 p.m. local time, or 0700-1100 Eastern Standard Time, in place across the Gaza Strip except for areas where IDF soldiers are already operating:
The IDF will respond to any attempt to exploit this window to harm Israeli citizens and Israeli soldiers
Two Palestinian journalists killed
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According to an affiliate of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate (PJS), two journalists die in the Israeli artillery shelling of Shojayah market. A third journalist has been seriously injured.
We express our anger and condemnation at the killing of these journalists, the latest victims in this ongoing cycle of intimidation, violence and murder against media workers in Palestine.
‘Miracle baby’ dies after 6 days
Baby Shayma dies in her incubator six days after she is born by emergency caesarian following the death of her 23-year-old mother, Shayma al-Sheikh Qanan.
https://twitter.com/ayeshaacarmouche/statuses/494468178064732160
UN: over 10% of Gaza population displaced
The United Nations issues a statement on conditions in Gaza. UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos:
Humanitarian organisations in Gaza are trying to help people in desperate and dangerous circumstances. People need food, water, medical care, safe shelter and other vital assistance. More families are being displaced every day and there are currently over 250,000 confirmed displaced people, 200,000 people in UNRWA shelters alone, in need of aid. This is over 10 per cent of the overall population of Gaza. Our capacity is stretched to the limit. World Food Programme is providing emergency food assistance to 204,000 people in addition to the regular food programmes and shortages of basic supplies have been reported in local markets. Given the deteriorating humanitarian situation, people’s needs will continue to grow.
Family Guy, Disney, Simpsons art
Artist alexSandro Palombo reimagines characters from Disney films, The Simpsons and Family Guy as Palestinians and Israelis in a series titled ‘Stop Hamas Terrorism’ and ‘Once Upon a time the children in Palestine,’ which he says is inspired by the 2014 Israel kidnappings and alleged use of child soldiers by Hamas. On what he refers to as ‘Disney humor chic’ art:
A powerful series to meditate. An original awareness campaign focused on the devastating problem of terrorism that affects Israel and Palestine and on child soldiers.
95% of Israelis support Protective Edge
The Israel Democracy Institute and Tel Aviv University find in a poll that 95% of Israelis support Operation Protective Edge as “just” and only 4% or less say that the Israel Defense Forces has used excessive force in the 2014 Gaza conflict:
Over the course of the surveys, Israeli Jewish public opinion has been consistently almost unanimous in its definition of Operation Protective Edge as justified – an average of 95% (96%, 92%, and 97% over the course of the three surveys).
The Home Front Command is given an average grade of 9.1, 8.6, and 9.1 on a scale of 1-10, with one being very poor and 10 being very good, while the performance of the government was rated as 8.0, 6.3, and 8.0.
Missiles ‘strike Hamas leader’s home’
Two missiles fired by the Israel Defense Forces are said to strike the home of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, which is empty at the time. No casualties are reported. His son, Abdel Salam:
The Israeli enemy struck our house twice.
Tunnel raid kills five soldiers
0 CommentsA Hamas squad infiltrates Israel and kills five soldiers in an attack on a military post south of Kibbutz Nahal Oz in the vicinity of the Karmi Crossing with the Gaza Strip. The militants are reported to have surfaced 150 meters inside the border before firing an anti-tank missile at the Israel Defense Forces position, fatally wounding four, and trying to drag away one of the bodies before exchanging fire with the soldiers. The tunnel, thought to originate in the neighborhood of Shejaiya, had previously been partly demolished and was believed to be inactive.
Releases tunnel attack video
The military wing of Hamas releases a video apparently showing an attack on an Israeli post near Nahal Oz on the Gaza border, in which five Israel Defense Forces soldiers are killed. Militants are seen walking in a tunnel and emerging with a rocket-propelled grenade, before approaching the post and firing on a soldier. They infiltrate the gate, hurry towards a soldier on the groundopen fire from close range and gather around the body. Also shown are exchanges of fire, while a report is audible by IDF soldiers that an attempt has been made to abduct a body, before the men run back to the tunnel. The video doesn’t show the militants firing an RPG, as has been reported by the IDF.
