Hamas
Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon said Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) “is suggesting to give less military assistance to the United States’ most important ally in the Middle East in order to give it to Hamas, a terrorist organization that celebrated the tragedy of 9/11.”
Both rockets intercepted by Iron Dome air-defense system • IDF: “Hamas will bear the consequences for attacks on Israeli civilians.”
Israel’s Deputy Defense Minister Avi Dichter told reporters that “Israel’s political and military leadership need to decide at a certain point to launch a campaign that will destroy the terrorist infrastructure in Gaza.”
It aims to hold the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights, also known as Education for a Just Peace in the Middle East, liable for conspiring to provide financial aid and other assistance to Palestinian terror groups that make up the Boycott National Committee, which leads the BDS movement.
This round of fighting dealt a significant blow to Palestinian Islamic Jihad; defense chiefs are eyeing whether the halt in hostilities will allow Israel to keep its focus on the far larger threats to the north.
Former Vice President Joe Biden, California Sen. Kamala Harris, South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and a few of the other candidates have criticized the rocket fire from the Gaza Strip into the Jewish state.
As Israel sought to contain the escalation—this time, without Hamas in the mix—a fragile situation emerged that could easily and dramatically change due to any significant civilian casualty on either side.
In the first hours of battle between Israel and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Hamas sat on the sidelines.
While officials insisted that this was a “one-off” operation and that Israel does not intend to return to a campaign of targeted assassinations, it also demonstrates to Hamas that Israel is still perfectly capable of obtaining detailed intelligence and carrying out a precision strike.
Rockets score direct hits in Netivot, Sderot, Rishon Letzion and Ashdod • IDF orders schools and businesses closed from Gaza to Tel Aviv, warns attacks may continue for “several days.”
Without Iran, “we would not have reached this point” says Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar • Cuts to Qatari aid will lead to violent escalation, terrorist organization threatens.
Israel seeks to prevent a powder keg from detonating at the southern border as it prioritizes the more threatening front up north.
