Terror continues: Two gravely hurt by fresh gunfire hours after deadly attacks
Gunfire began during a press conference by Defense Minister Ehud Barak and IDF chief Benny Gantz, at the scene of the attacks; 'Iron Dome' system intercepts rocket from Gaza Strip.
By Haaretz Tags: IDF Gaza Strip Ehud Barak PalestiniansTwo people were critically wounded Thursday evening when gunfire erupted close to the site of a deadly series of terror attacks earlier in the day in which eight people had been killed.
The gunfire began during a press conference by Defense Minister Ehud Barak and IDF chief Benny Gantz, at the scene of the attacks.
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IDF troops patrolling in the area of a series of terror attacks in southern Israel that left at least seven people dead, August 18, 2011. |
| Photo by: AP |
A short time before the renewed gunfire, IDF aircraft struck targets in the Gaza Strip, killing at least six people, including senior commander in the Popular Resistance Committees, Kamal Abu Abed al-Nairab.
Seven people were killed and dozens more were wounded in the apparently coordinated series of gun attacks and artillery strikes approximately 20 kilometers north of the southern city of Eilat, close to the border with Egypt.
The first attack, at around 12 P.M., was a drive-by shooting targeting Egged bus 392 traveling from Be'er Sheva to Eilat, near the Netafim junction.
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Ehud Barak and Benny Gantz, July 2011. |
| Photo by: Emil Salman |
Shortly afterward, IDF forces rushed to the scene and were faced with several explosive devices that were detonated alongside an IDF vehicle.
At approximately 12:35, a mortar was fired from Egypt to Israel. No casualties were reported.
At 1:10 P.M., a terrorist cell fired an anti-tank missile at a private vehicle, wounding seven.
Minutes later, another cell fired an anti-tank missile at a private vehicle, killing six.
The IDF Spokesman reported that two to four terrorists were killed during the clashes.
According to reports, the terrorists in the car opened fire at the Egged bus, which carried a significant number of soldiers leaving their bases for the weekend.
In the aftermath of the first attack, Israeli security forces launched a search for the vehicle thought to have transported the gunmen, setting up barricades in the area. A firefight erupted once the IDF troops caught up with the vehicle, in which several of the armed men were killed.
Two IDF helicopters were called to the scene in order to evacuate those wounded to Yoseftal hospital in Eilat and to Soroka hospital in Be'er Sheva.
Earlier tonight, the 'Iron Dome' system operated by IAF Air Defense Corps forces intercepted a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip at Israel.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Thursday that Israel would respond to the attacks in an appropriate manner.
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I cannot understand why do the Israeli army officials think that the attacks were implemented by Palestinians? Where's the evidence? it really vexes when I hear that IDF troops repulse striking Gaza targets.
I guess that when he worked out the numbers he was happy to give away a few Isreali lives in order to keep power and get his way. Good job Mossad.
This was a prepared attack inside Israel. I don't think it was Hamas. Somebody sent a clear message via proxies.
for proving to us why we must choke you to submission with our occupation and siege. You do not let us down.
And that is one of the reasons this attack came from Egyptian territory.
The IDF strikes at a ready target, except that it accomplishes nothing, if not even increasing the damage. The likely culprits are al-Qaida, not Hamas. Multiple and co-ordinated attacks is the hallmark of al-Qaida, to say nothing about the fact that the attacks occured near Eilat, not Gaza. It reminds me of the 80's, when everything that happened in Lebanon caused an IDF attack on PLO bases, until Hizballah became known. We now have a repeat performance. For now, Hamas controls Gaza. If it is weakened significantly, or if attacked mindlessly, the place will be taken over by al-Qaida. Somebody in Israel must start thinking about the future, not only about the present.
It is the responsibility of the Egyptian government ...which is now the military...to hunt down the attackers and to start protecting Israel from them. If not there is no peace agreement in force and the paper it is written on is worthless.
Terrorists cannot hide in Egypt or Gaza coz IDF will hunt you down.
Israel should take this opportunity to destroy most of Gaza and its infra-structure to get the point through and quit talkiing to the Arabs on peace and declare that the Palestinians do not exist therefore Israel does not recognize the Palis..
A massive attack against Gaza, and right now! Cast Lead X1000!! NO MERCI WITH HAMAS AND GAZA!!! Shoot'em ALL!!!
This came from the terror cells in Sinai, AFTER Egypt deployed its army there.
Obviously there is a new threat to Israel from Egypt but it seems that if an Israeli were killed in the North Pole they would still retaliate against Hamas. They need more land to expand their illegal settlements and Palestine is the only place they can expropriate it from. Did the Israelis think they would get away with their murderous policies for ever? Now they will build new walls and high fences. They are becoming prisoners of their own decadent policies. Not too long now before the American Empire collapses in financial ruin and they will take the Israelis with them. It cannot come soon enough. If I were an Israeli, especially with a young family, I would be packing my bags and heading back to wherever I came from. Germany? I would do it before it is too late.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak and IDF chief Benny Gantz had their press conference attacked? That is really embarrassing folks. It makes them look like fools. It makes the IDF look incompetent. What moron is responsible? Well, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and IDF chief Benny Gantz were the ranking leaders present. Clearly a press conference was deemed more important to their careers than anything else.
daily bombing of tunnels will change the minds or leadership of Gaza...suspension of hostilities only benefits the army who needs rearming.
I am so sorry just to learn that Israeli citizens have lost their lives at terrorist attack and a 9 old child has been killed by Israel army in Refah.We pray God grant the deceased mercy and their family all welfare.
and before the worse start no doubt in near future Egypt will be come under Al Quadah control ,Israel must act immediately and do not wait for more attack and more casualty.
"[The attacks] are extremely serious, and violate Israel's sovereignty." - Netanyahu// Yahoo was probably unprepared, because he views himself as somebody who brings to Israel security. So how come was there such a serious sequence of attacks? In his confusion, Netanyahu stated that such attacks are illegal, as if he himself abides religiously by international law. Unfortunately, Netanyahu's tactics are only short term measures. The pot keeps boiling and eventually explodes. People who reject Hamas are getting al-Qaida, just as those who rejected the PLO in the past got Hamas. There is a price to pay for ignoring the boiling pot.
Once again you blaim israel for getting attacked this is mental!!! you say israel wants war yet the "palistineans" attacked a public bus ....again. who wants war not israel but you bet will will finnish it.
Israelis think that their settlement building and oppression of the Palestinian people should come without a cost. They think that their biggest problem is getting free child care and higher wages. Think again.
I think today it is time for a bottle of champagne.
you loathsome creature.
for Hamas or Islamic Jihad, we need to start looking at possibly Egyptian intelligence involvement.
iran. hamas. rise of the brotherhood in Egypt...
or even israeli intelligence involvement im not ruling anything out with this one
So in here you just throw seeds of hatred?
They're most likely trained by the Syrian Military Intelligence Agency in order to try and provoke a harsh military response, so they can use that same precedent to engage Israel if anyone dies trying to infiltrate the north. Where do Hamas' leaders hideout? Damascus. Besides that Assad has to convince them to stay for Iran's sake. Since they shelled a refugee camp earlier this week, and countries expect dividends for support in these situations. Especially when you start undermining their ultimate goals.
and before the worse start no doubt in near future Egypt will be come under Al Quadah control ,Israel must act immediately and do not wait for more attack and more casualty.
have to dig them himself if this continues !
oh yes you are gonna get your state, same as your 7 virgins..
maybe if they had had their state, they would not try to get Israel out of its colonies.
60 year of bent up anti Semitism exploding with freedom of speech and movement
The terrorist tell you that a few days ago?
This could all be over in days if the international community would shut up and let Israel defend their rights!!! These order sare coming from Syria and Iran.Stop messing with little hamas boys and wipe out syria and iran,,,,problem solved.
It was pipelines yesterday, police station attacks,... Now it it's in on the land of Israel!
It was pipelines yesterday, police station attacks,... Now it it's in on the land of Israel!
When armed forces, like the IDF, invade, steal and occupies lands that do not belong to it, the people who's lands were stolen from, in this case the Palestinian people, also have the right to defend their lives and fight for their rights and freedom and statehood.
2011 is not 1991
" including a senior Palestinian militant. " Why use the word "militant"? These people intentionally attack civillians to spread fear and achieve a "political" goal. The correct definition should be "terrorists".
Begin was leader of Irgun and Shamir was leader of Lehi (the Stern Gang). These were as bloody as any terrirost groups that ever existed. They were terrorists by your definition too, right?
Now comes the real test of Israeli leaders. If they stay steady and do not interfere with the creation of the Palestinian state, eventually there will be a chance for a longer term stability. But, if they panic and react to fear and political pressure, trying to show a plastic "iron fist", there may be a tragedy most people can't imagine. A lot of people in the region are prepared against the state of Israel. Now would be a good time to arrest Lieberman.
its been over 100 years and they still enjoy killing us... what makes you think that they will stop? ever?
The only thing Israel needs to do is black out television covergae,block internet access and wipe out hamas and any other rag head that carries a gun.The ONLY thing arabs understand is a CRUSHING DEFEAT!!!
The content if rockets fired back at gaza time to return the strip to the barren desert
The writer is perhaps anti-Israeli, but he may be right.
Everything you can perceive has two sides. Are any of you able to comprehend that there is a Palestinian side to this conflict, a Palestinian version? The tolerance of all Israel acts, as a result of "sympathy" from the holocaust, is gone. It is gone. Either look at history with an open eye or you will be painted with two closed eyes. When you call justice "appeasement" you are committing a very deadly error. You are fighting nature.
Israel would have flooded the ground with helicopter borne troops. Obviously the situation in Syria, Gaza, Lebanon and the West Bank are tying down huge numbers of forces and hampering Israel's ability to defend it's citizens
This isn't about troops as much as about intelligence and thwarting terror from its roots. That requires a very complex chain of cooperating branches, and crucially, the will of Egypt's junta to really confronmt terror in Sinai. That is the million dollar question.