‘Israeli’ Aggression on Seized Gaza Enters Third Day, Gaza Continues to Respond

“Israel’s” Operation Protective Edge entered its third day on Thursday, after a night of heavy bombing by “Israeli” War Forces resulted in a rising martyrdom toll in seized Gaza, with Palestinian sources putting the number of martyrs at 68 on Thursday morning.

An “Israeli” strike martyred eight Palestinians, including four women and two children in the southern seized Gaza town of Khan Yunis, where six of the martyrs were from the same family, Palinfo reported.
A health ministry spokesperson in seized Gaza told the site that 30 people were injured in the attack, which came without any warning.

Meanwhile, rocket sirens sounded in Tel Aviv on Thursday morning, which were immediately followed by a series of audible explosions.

The “Israel” Air Force has struck 320 targets in seized Gaza over the past 24 hours, and 750 targets since the operation that began on Monday.

Around 800 tons of explosives have been fired by air force jets on targets this week, a senior military source said. The “Israeli” Air Force’s current rate of fire is double that of Operation Pillar of War, launched in 2012.”We’ll see this trend increasing, as part of our firepower policy,” the source said.

In response, more than 250 rockets and mortar shells were fired from seized Gaza at the “Israeli” “home” front since Tuesday, and the shooting continued throughout much of Wednesday night, with Be’er Sheva and Ashkelon targeted.
On Wednesday, long-range rockets were launched at Tel Aviv, occupied al-Quds, and also as far north as the Haifa region.

59 “Israelis” have been treated for shock while nine have suffered light injuries while running for shelter.

Moreover, residents of the southern “Israeli” town bordering seized Gaza Strip received a message that “due to a severe security event in the town, you are asked to go into your homes and lock the doors.”

Meanwhile, “Israeli” War Forces Spokesperson’s Unit chief Brig. Gen. Moti Almoz said Wednesday night that a security event was ongoing in one of the southern “Israeli” communities bordering the seized Gaza Strip. He refused to comment further.

Initial reports suggest that two armed resistance fighters tried to penetrate into “Israeli” territory.
Five armed resistance fighters also attempted to infiltrate “Israel” on Tuesday evening when they entered kibbutz Zikim through the sea.

Furthermore, Zionist Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at a security briefing on Wednesday that attacks on Hamas would be escalated, and that the operation “will expand and continue until the fire on our communities is over and the quiet is back.”

Earlier, Netanyahu said, “The army is ready for all possibilities,” after holding a meeting of his Security Cabinet.

Netanyahu also told UN Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon and other world leaders on Wednesday that Hamas was guilty of two types of war crimes by “intentionally trying to hit “Israeli” citizens, and using the local [seized] Gaza population as human shields.”

These conversations were part of Netanyahu’s efforts to garner international understanding and support for its actions in seized Gaza, even as Palestinian casualties – including the numbers of civilians martyred unintentionally – is rising.

Netanyahu is expected to have more conversations with world leaders on Thursday.

In addition, “Israeli” War Forces Spokesperson’s Unit chief Brig. Gen. Moti Almoz said on Wednesday night that the military was “not taking any steps lightly” and warned Hamas against continuing its rocket attacks on “Israel.”

Almoz said the “Israeli” War Forces had thousands more targets it could strike in the seized Gaza Strip and that “everything is on the table.”
He added, “…The operation will expand and continue until the fire toward our towns stops and quiet returns.”

Moreover, War Minister Moshe Ya’alon said that Operation Protective Edge is set to expand, and similar comments were made by the “Israeli” War Forces spokesperson, indicating the “Israeli” War Forces was still mulling a ground operation in seized Gaza.

“We’ll continue with strikes that will exact a very heavy price from Hamas…” Ya’alon told Army Radio.

The “Israeli” War Forces launched over 780 strikes in the seized Gaza Strip since the operation began on Monday, with medical officials in Gaza saying some 400 Palestinians, mainly civilians, have entered hospitals.