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| Israel launches fresh Gaza attacks amid rocket fire – updates | Israel launches fresh Gaza attacks amid rocket fire – updates |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Latest news after IDF says ground forces have joined the attacks on Gaza Strip but have not entered the enclave | Latest news after IDF says ground forces have joined the attacks on Gaza Strip but have not entered the enclave |
| In the northern Gaza Strip, Rafat Tanani, his pregnant wife and four children were killed after an Israeli warplane reduced the building to rubble, according to an AP report citing local residents. | |
| Sadallah Tanani, a relative, said the family was “wiped out from the population register” without warning. “It was a massacre. My feelings are indescribable,” he said. | |
| Gaza’s Health Ministry says the death toll has climbed to 109 Palestinians, including 28 children and 15 women, with 621 people wounded, according to the Associated Press. | |
| The Hamas and Islamic Jihad militant groups have confirmed 20 deaths in their ranks, though Israel says that number is much higher. Seven people have been killed in Israel, including a 6-year-old boy and a soldier. | |
| Helen Sullivan with you for our live coverage of the attacks on Gaza. If you see news or video footage you think we may have missed, let me know on Twitter on @helenrsullivan or via email: helen.sullivan@theguardian.com. | |
| Many thanks to those who have sent information throughout the night. | |
| More on the violence within Israel last night, via AP: | |
| In Tel Aviv, two Jewish men attacked a journalist covering a gathering of ultra-nationalists. In the city of Lod, a Jewish man was shot and seriously wounded by an Arab man. In Jaffa, an Israeli soldier was attacked by a group of Arabs and was hospitalised in serious condition. | |
| For the fourth night last night communal violence continued in Israel, too, with Jewish and Arab mobs clashing in the town of Lod. The fighting took place despite a bolstered police presence ordered by the nation’s leaders. | |
| Palestinian journalist Aya Isleem has tweeted this footage of the destruction taken by Israeli public broadcaster KAN this morning: | Palestinian journalist Aya Isleem has tweeted this footage of the destruction taken by Israeli public broadcaster KAN this morning: |
| If you are just joining us, air strikes and rocket fire appear to be continuing in Gaza this morning, as the Israeli Defence Forces say that they launched an operation involving bombing by 160 aircraft last night in order to destroy tunnels built by Hamas. | If you are just joining us, air strikes and rocket fire appear to be continuing in Gaza this morning, as the Israeli Defence Forces say that they launched an operation involving bombing by 160 aircraft last night in order to destroy tunnels built by Hamas. |
| At 1am on Friday, Gaza time, the IDF tweeted that “air and ground troops are currently attacking in the Gaza strip”, but a few hours later, it sent “clarification” stating that there are “currently no IDF ground troops” in Gaza. | At 1am on Friday, Gaza time, the IDF tweeted that “air and ground troops are currently attacking in the Gaza strip”, but a few hours later, it sent “clarification” stating that there are “currently no IDF ground troops” in Gaza. |
| There was nonetheless a marked escalation in violence from Israeli forces last night. | There was nonetheless a marked escalation in violence from Israeli forces last night. |
| The “misunderstanding” regarding the ground troops being investigated, according to the Times of Israel, citing an IDF spokesperson. | The “misunderstanding” regarding the ground troops being investigated, according to the Times of Israel, citing an IDF spokesperson. |
| Meanwhile the US State Department issued an advisory against travel to Israel and the Palestinian territories. The UN has called for a ceasefire and announced that the Security Council will meet on Sunday. | Meanwhile the US State Department issued an advisory against travel to Israel and the Palestinian territories. The UN has called for a ceasefire and announced that the Security Council will meet on Sunday. |
| We do not yet know the death toll from last night’s attacks. | We do not yet know the death toll from last night’s attacks. |
| We now have confirmation of the operation by 160 aircraft (but not of the number of missiles dropped): | We now have confirmation of the operation by 160 aircraft (but not of the number of missiles dropped): |
| According to the Israeli Defence Forces: | According to the Israeli Defence Forces: |
| The Independent’s Middle East correspondent Bel Trew reports that Israel launched an operation of 160 planes bombing Gaza last night, in what they say was a targeted attack on an underground tunnel system. | The Independent’s Middle East correspondent Bel Trew reports that Israel launched an operation of 160 planes bombing Gaza last night, in what they say was a targeted attack on an underground tunnel system. |
| The Times of Israel is also reporting this. The air campaign saw 450 missiles dropped, according to the Times of Israel, which cites IDF spokesperson Hidai Zilberman. The Guardian is working to verify the information with the Israeli Defense Forces. | The Times of Israel is also reporting this. The air campaign saw 450 missiles dropped, according to the Times of Israel, which cites IDF spokesperson Hidai Zilberman. The Guardian is working to verify the information with the Israeli Defense Forces. |
| On this morning’s episode of Today in Focus, Oliver Holmes, the Guardian’s Jerusalem correspondent, discusses what has prompted the worst unrest in Israel and Palestine since 2014: | On this morning’s episode of Today in Focus, Oliver Holmes, the Guardian’s Jerusalem correspondent, discusses what has prompted the worst unrest in Israel and Palestine since 2014: |
| Al Jazeera reports that airstrikes have continued into Gaza this morning, with rockets also being launched at Israel from Gaza. | Al Jazeera reports that airstrikes have continued into Gaza this morning, with rockets also being launched at Israel from Gaza. |
| The Guardian has not confirmed this independently, but it appears to be the case from a live feed being streamed by Al Jazeera from Gaza. | The Guardian has not confirmed this independently, but it appears to be the case from a live feed being streamed by Al Jazeera from Gaza. |
| Al Jazeera cites the Safa Press agency as “reporting more Israeli shelling and aerial bombardments in Gaza on Friday morning” and that “several air raids were launched in the eastern and northern part of Gaza City.” | Al Jazeera cites the Safa Press agency as “reporting more Israeli shelling and aerial bombardments in Gaza on Friday morning” and that “several air raids were launched in the eastern and northern part of Gaza City.” |
| “Artillery fire and shelling were also reported in the town of al-Fakhari, east of Khan Yunis in Gaza.” | “Artillery fire and shelling were also reported in the town of al-Fakhari, east of Khan Yunis in Gaza.” |
| The live feed also appeared to show rockets being fired from Gaza. | The live feed also appeared to show rockets being fired from Gaza. |
| In the last hour, sirens could also be heard on the feed. | In the last hour, sirens could also be heard on the feed. |
| Australia’s prime minister, Scott Morrison, was asked about the attacks in Gaza at a post-budget lunch.Morrison said: | Australia’s prime minister, Scott Morrison, was asked about the attacks in Gaza at a post-budget lunch.Morrison said: |
| Hi, Helen Sullivan with you again. | Hi, Helen Sullivan with you again. |
| The military reporter for the Times of Israel has just tweeted that Israeli Defense Forces spokesperson Hidai Zilberman says that no Israeli troops entered on Thursday night / early morning on Friday, and that there was a “misunderstanding” that is now being investigated. | The military reporter for the Times of Israel has just tweeted that Israeli Defense Forces spokesperson Hidai Zilberman says that no Israeli troops entered on Thursday night / early morning on Friday, and that there was a “misunderstanding” that is now being investigated. |
| In case you are just joining us, the IDF sent the Guardian “clarification” a few hours ago stating that there are “currently no IDF ground troops” in Gaza. | In case you are just joining us, the IDF sent the Guardian “clarification” a few hours ago stating that there are “currently no IDF ground troops” in Gaza. |
| It did not explain the earlier statement tweeted by the IDF’s english account at 1am on Friday Gaza time stating, “IDF air and ground troops are currently attacking in the Gaza strip”. This prompted reports that Israel had launched an invasion by ground troops inside the Gaza territory. | It did not explain the earlier statement tweeted by the IDF’s english account at 1am on Friday Gaza time stating, “IDF air and ground troops are currently attacking in the Gaza strip”. This prompted reports that Israel had launched an invasion by ground troops inside the Gaza territory. |