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Israeli Leader Signals No Quick End to Gaza War Israeli Leader Signals No Quick End to Gaza War
(about 1 hour later)
JERUSALEM — Israel’s prime minister on Monday signaled no quick end to the three-week-old Gaza war, telling Israelis that they must prepare themselves for a prolonged conflict in order to crush what he described as the double threat of rockets and “death tunnels” into Israel dug by Hamas and its associates. JERUSALEM — Israel’s prime minister on Monday signaled no quick end to the three-week-old Gaza war, telling Israelis that they must prepare themselves for more fighting in order to crush what he described as the double threat of rockets and “death tunnels” into Israel dug by Hamas and its associates.
The speech by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a televised address came after an informal lull by both sides in deference to a Muslim holiday was shattered by explosions that hit a children’s play area in a Palestinian refugee camp near Gaza City and killed at least 10, explosions near Gaza’s main hospital, a mortar attack that killed up to four Israelis on Israel’s side of the border, and what Israel called an attempted infiltration by Gaza gunmen through one of the tunnels. The speech by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a televised address came after an informal lull by both sides in deference to a Muslim holiday was shattered by explosions that hit a children’s play area in a Palestinian refugee camp near Gaza City and killed at least 10, explosions near Gaza’s main hospital, a mortar attack that killed four Israeli soldiers on Israel’s side of the border, and what Israel called an attempted infiltration by Gaza gunmen through one of the tunnels.
There was no indication that either Israel or Hamas, the main militant group in Gaza, were prepared to embrace growing calls for an immediate halt to the conflict.There was no indication that either Israel or Hamas, the main militant group in Gaza, were prepared to embrace growing calls for an immediate halt to the conflict.
“Israeli citizens cannot live with the threat from rockets and from death tunnels — death from above and from below,” Mr. Netanyahu said in his televised remarks. He said Israelis would not “end this operation without neutralizing the tunnels, whose sole purpose is killing our citizens.”“Israeli citizens cannot live with the threat from rockets and from death tunnels — death from above and from below,” Mr. Netanyahu said in his televised remarks. He said Israelis would not “end this operation without neutralizing the tunnels, whose sole purpose is killing our citizens.”
More than 1,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, and at least 43 Israeli soldiers and three civilians on the Israeli side have been killed in the conflict. Efforts by the United Nations Security Council and Secretary of State John Kerry to achieve even a temporary halt in the fighting have proved ineffective so far. More than 1,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, and at least 48 Israeli soldiers and three civilians on the Israeli side have been killed in the conflict. Efforts by the United Nations Security Council and Secretary of State John Kerry to achieve even a temporary halt in the fighting have proved ineffective so far.
Mr. Netanyahu did not announce an immediate broadening of the ground invasion in Gaza or any change in its stated goals of destroying Hamas’s rocket and tunnel infrastructure. But he suggested that the military campaign required “perseverance and determination,” and said that the demilitarization of Gaza had to be “part of any solution, and the international community must demand that.”Mr. Netanyahu did not announce an immediate broadening of the ground invasion in Gaza or any change in its stated goals of destroying Hamas’s rocket and tunnel infrastructure. But he suggested that the military campaign required “perseverance and determination,” and said that the demilitarization of Gaza had to be “part of any solution, and the international community must demand that.”
His defense minister, Moshe Yaalon, spoke of a campaign that could last “more long days.”His defense minister, Moshe Yaalon, spoke of a campaign that could last “more long days.”
“If the terrorist organizations in Gaza think they can break Israel and its citizens,” Mr. Yaalon said, “they will come to understand in the next few days that this is not the case.”“If the terrorist organizations in Gaza think they can break Israel and its citizens,” Mr. Yaalon said, “they will come to understand in the next few days that this is not the case.”
Hamas, which does not recognize Israel’s right to exist, has framed the Gaza fighting as resistance against an enemy that has kept the Mediterranean enclave of 1.7 million Palestinians isolated and deprived, despite promises in a 2012 truce agreement that halted the last spate of intense fighting.
Israel and Hamas accused each other of responsibility for the explosions at the Shati refugee camp and Shifa Hospital. Hamas and its affiliates said Israeli aerial attacks were responsible. The Israelis said errant Palestinian rockets that had been aimed at Israel but misfired were the cause.Israel and Hamas accused each other of responsibility for the explosions at the Shati refugee camp and Shifa Hospital. Hamas and its affiliates said Israeli aerial attacks were responsible. The Israelis said errant Palestinian rockets that had been aimed at Israel but misfired were the cause.
Later, Israel’s military reported up to four Israelis were reported killed by mortar rounds fired from the Gaza side at an Israeli military staging area. An Israeli military spokesman confirmed that there had been a mortar attack and casualties, but could provide no further details. The Israeli military also reported that an infiltration attempt via tunnel by Gaza gunmen who fired at soldiers, and that several of the gunmen were killed. Later, Israel’s military reported four Israeli soldiers were killed by mortar rounds fired from the Gaza side at an Israeli military staging area, and a fifth Israeli soldier was killed in combat in southern Gaza. The Israeli military also reported an infiltration attempt via tunnel near Nahal Oz, a community near the Gaza border, by gunmen who fired at soldiers, and that at least one of the gunmen had been killed. It was unclear if there were any Israeli casualties.
Soon afterward Hamas fired barrages of rockets deep into Israel, setting off sirens as far north as the Haifa area. The Israeli military said it had warned Palestinian civilians in several areas of the eastern and northern Gaza Strip to evacuate their homes “immediately,” through phone calls and text messages, signaling further escalation. Soon after, Hamas fired barrages of rockets deep into Israel, setting off sirens as far north as the Haifa area. The Israeli military said it had warned Palestinian civilians in several areas of the eastern and northern Gaza Strip to evacuate their homes “immediately,” through phone calls and text messages, signaling further escalation.
Late Monday night, the Health Ministry in Gaza reported at least eight Palestinians were killed and 10 wounded from what it described as intensive Israeli airstrikes and tank shelling in both the northern and southern areas of Gaza.
The official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that at least 10 children were killed as they played in a park in the Shati refugee camp on the western edge of Gaza City. The Palestinian agency attributed the explosions to Israeli missiles. Gaza’s Health Ministry, offering a slightly different account, said the dead included at least eight children and two adults.The official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that at least 10 children were killed as they played in a park in the Shati refugee camp on the western edge of Gaza City. The Palestinian agency attributed the explosions to Israeli missiles. Gaza’s Health Ministry, offering a slightly different account, said the dead included at least eight children and two adults.
But Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, a spokesman for the Israeli military, denied that Israel had carried out any attacks at Shati or near the main Gaza City hospital, Shifa, saying those blasts “have absolutely nothing to do with us.” The Israeli military said the explosions had been caused by militant rockets aimed at Israel that had gone astray.But Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, a spokesman for the Israeli military, denied that Israel had carried out any attacks at Shati or near the main Gaza City hospital, Shifa, saying those blasts “have absolutely nothing to do with us.” The Israeli military said the explosions had been caused by militant rockets aimed at Israel that had gone astray.
The missile or rocket explosion near Shifa hit an outside wall of the compound, about 200 yards from the main entrance, and caused damage but no casualties. Plainclothes security officers barred reporters from entering the compound to get close to where the rocket or missile fell.The missile or rocket explosion near Shifa hit an outside wall of the compound, about 200 yards from the main entrance, and caused damage but no casualties. Plainclothes security officers barred reporters from entering the compound to get close to where the rocket or missile fell.
The fragility of the unsigned calm had been foreshadowed earlier in the day when several rockets and mortars were fired into Israel. A Palestinian man and a 4-year-old boy were reportedly killed by an Israeli airstrike and artillery fire, and an Israeli soldier was wounded in a gunfight in northern Gaza.The fragility of the unsigned calm had been foreshadowed earlier in the day when several rockets and mortars were fired into Israel. A Palestinian man and a 4-year-old boy were reportedly killed by an Israeli airstrike and artillery fire, and an Israeli soldier was wounded in a gunfight in northern Gaza.
The informal lull, after three weeks of fighting broken only by a couple of brief humanitarian pauses, had been meant to provide a respite for Eid al-Fitr, the holiday that ends the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Colonel Lerner, the spokesman for the Israeli military, said the army had “toned down its activities to the level where we are combating tunnels on the one hand and responding to Hamas aggression on the other.”The informal lull, after three weeks of fighting broken only by a couple of brief humanitarian pauses, had been meant to provide a respite for Eid al-Fitr, the holiday that ends the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Colonel Lerner, the spokesman for the Israeli military, said the army had “toned down its activities to the level where we are combating tunnels on the one hand and responding to Hamas aggression on the other.”
No cease-fire has yet been agreed on, but there was a marked decrease in rocket and mortar fire against Israel for much of the day. Hamas had called for a 24-hour cease-fire starting Sunday afternoon, hours after Israel declared that it was abandoning an earlier 24-hour pause because of heavy rocket fire. Israel did not publicly respond to Hamas’s belated call. There was a marked decrease in rocket and mortar fire against Israel for much of the day. Hamas had called for a 24-hour cease-fire starting Sunday afternoon, hours after Israel declared that it was abandoning an earlier 24-hour pause because of heavy rocket fire. Israel did not publicly respond to Hamas’s belated call.
The relative calm came after a statement by the United Nations Security Council supporting the call for a humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza. On Sunday, President Obama called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel and expressed growing concern about the rising death toll and urged Israel to embrace an immediate truce, and Secretary of State John Kerry also kept up his efforts to attain a long-term cease-fire. The relative calm came after a statement by the United Nations Security Council supporting the call for a humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza. On Sunday, President Obama called Mr. Netanyahu and expressed growing concern about the rising death toll and urged Israel to embrace an immediate truce, and Secretary of State John Kerry also kept up his efforts to attain a long-term cease-fire.
Mr. Netanyahu spoke with the secretary general of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, later Monday and strongly criticized the Security Council’s call for an immediate and unconditional cease-fire. Mr. Netanyahu said the Security Council’s statement “related to the needs of a murderous terrorist organization that attacks Israeli citizens,” referring to Hamas, “and does not address the security needs of Israel,” according to a statement from Mr. Netanyahu’s office. He called on the international community to act to demilitarize the Gaza Strip.Mr. Netanyahu spoke with the secretary general of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, later Monday and strongly criticized the Security Council’s call for an immediate and unconditional cease-fire. Mr. Netanyahu said the Security Council’s statement “related to the needs of a murderous terrorist organization that attacks Israeli citizens,” referring to Hamas, “and does not address the security needs of Israel,” according to a statement from Mr. Netanyahu’s office. He called on the international community to act to demilitarize the Gaza Strip.
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also criticized the Security Council’s statement, saying that while the Palestinians welcomed the call for a cease-fire, it fell short by failing to address the underlying causes of the escalation, including “the continued Israeli occupation” and “the denial of basic Palestinian rights.”The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also criticized the Security Council’s statement, saying that while the Palestinians welcomed the call for a cease-fire, it fell short by failing to address the underlying causes of the escalation, including “the continued Israeli occupation” and “the denial of basic Palestinian rights.”
The Palestine Liberation Organization, dominated by the mainstream Fatah faction, has also strongly criticized Mr. Kerry’s efforts, faulting his meetings on Saturday in Paris with European, Qatari and Turkish officials, which took place without Egyptian or P.L.O. representatives. The P.L.O. also accused the participants in those meetings of trying to circumvent the roles of Egypt and Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president and leader of the P.L.O.The Palestine Liberation Organization, dominated by the mainstream Fatah faction, has also strongly criticized Mr. Kerry’s efforts, faulting his meetings on Saturday in Paris with European, Qatari and Turkish officials, which took place without Egyptian or P.L.O. representatives. The P.L.O. also accused the participants in those meetings of trying to circumvent the roles of Egypt and Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president and leader of the P.L.O.
Underscoring the uneasy, unilateral nature of the latest lull and the lack of coordination between the sides, with each reluctant to be led by the other, Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas spokesman, said in a statement Monday morning: “The occupation still rejects any cease-fire related to the Eid. This is a disregard for Muslims’ feelings and their worship. The occupation will bear the responsibility for this escalation and the denial of the Muslims’ worship.”Underscoring the uneasy, unilateral nature of the latest lull and the lack of coordination between the sides, with each reluctant to be led by the other, Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas spokesman, said in a statement Monday morning: “The occupation still rejects any cease-fire related to the Eid. This is a disregard for Muslims’ feelings and their worship. The occupation will bear the responsibility for this escalation and the denial of the Muslims’ worship.”
More than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in the fighting that began July 8 with an aerial campaign that Israel said was meant to quell the rocket fire and led to an Israeli ground offensive. That offensive has focused on Hamas’s underground tunnels, some of which have been used by its gunmen for infiltration into Israel. On the Israeli side, 43 soldiers have been killed, and three civilians were killed by rocket and mortar fire. The fighting began July 8 with an aerial campaign that Israel said was meant to quell Palestinian rocket fire, and led to an Israeli ground offensive. That offensive has focused on Hamas’s tunnels, which the Israelis say have turned out to be far more developed than they had thought.
About 170,000 Palestinians, roughly a tenth of the population of Gaza, remain displaced, many of them sheltering in United Nations schools and facilities around the Gaza Strip. About 170,000 Palestinians, roughly a tenth of the population of Gaza, remain displaced, many of them sheltered in United Nations schools and facilities around the Gaza Strip.
Israel’s chief military spokesman, Brig. Gen. Moti Almoz, described the situation on Monday as “a lull with no restrictions. The I.D.F. is free to attack and to respond to any fire,” he told Israel Radio, referring to the Israel Defense Forces.
After a rocket hit the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon on Monday morning, the military said it “retaliated toward the Beit Lahiya area,” in northern Gaza, “from which the rocket was fired.” Later, the military said it had hit two concealed rocket launchers and a weapons manufacturing site in the northern and central Gaza Strip.