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1 Israeli, 20 Palestinians Killed in Gaza Ground Offensive 1 Israeli, 20 Palestinians Killed in Gaza Ground Offensive
(35 minutes later)
JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel said Friday that he had ordered the military to “prepare for the possibility of widening, significantly,” the ground operation in the Gaza Strip begun Thursday night, but acknowledged “there is no guarantee of 100 percent success.” JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel said on Friday that he had ordered the military to “prepare for the possibility of widening, significantly,” the ground operation in the Gaza Strip begun Thursday night, but acknowledged “there is no guarantee of 100 percent success.”
Mr. Netanyahu offered condolences to the family of an Israeli soldier killed in the first hours of the ground offensive, identified by the military as Staff Sgt. Eitan Barak, 20, from Herzliya. Palestinian health officials reported that a 4-month-old baby and 18-year-old male were among more than 20 Gaza residents killed overnight as the total death toll from the operation topped 260, with some 1,800 injured. Mr. Netanyahu offered condolences to the family of an Israeli soldier killed in the first hours of the ground offensive, identified by the military as Staff Sgt. Eitan Barak, 20, from Herzliya. Palestinian health officials reported that a 4-month-old baby and an 18-year-old male were among more than 20 Gaza residents killed overnight as the total Palestinian death toll topped 260, with some 1,800 others injured.
Israeli news outlets reported that the soldier was shot near Beit Hanoun, in northeast Gaza, possibly from friendly fire, though a Twitter post from the Army said he was “fighting Hamas terrorists.” He was posthumously promoted to staff sergeant from sergeant. Sergeant Barak was the second Israeli casualty of the conflict that began July 8; a 37-year-old civilian was killed by mortar shells from Gaza as he distributed food to soldiers massed near the border Tuesday night. Israeli news outlets reported that the soldier was shot near Beit Hanoun, in northeast Gaza, possibly from friendly fire, though a Twitter post from the Army said he was “fighting Hamas terrorists.” He was posthumously promoted to staff sergeant from sergeant.
An Israeli Army statement on the overnight action in Gaza said the military had hit more than 100 sites in the coastal territory, and “succeeded in neutralizing some 14 terrorists in several exchanges of fire.”An Israeli Army statement on the overnight action in Gaza said the military had hit more than 100 sites in the coastal territory, and “succeeded in neutralizing some 14 terrorists in several exchanges of fire.”
The statment continued, “Initial indication suggests that the results thus far fall in line with expectations.” Israeli forces “are advancing in their respective missions, including identifying and combating the terror-tunnel threat,” the statement said. “Initial indication suggests that the results thus far fall in line with expectations,” the statement said, adding that Israeli forces “are advancing in their respective missions, including identifying and combating the terror-tunnel threat.”
Electricity had been cut in most of Gaza due to downed cables that bring power from Israel, and street battles were reported on social media in Gaza City as well as northern and southern towns. Electricity had been cut in most of Gaza because of downed cables that bring power from Israel, and street battles in Gaza City and in northern and southern towns were reported on social media.
“We chose to go to this operation after we exhausted the other options and with the understanding that without this operation the price we pay will be much higher,” Mr. Netanyahu said in a nationally televised address shortly before noon from the military headquarters in Tel Aviv, where he had convened his top ministers. He said he had talked to world leaders to create “the international space, something that should not be taken for granted, so we can act systematically and with power against the murderous terror and its partners.” Along the road that runs parallel to Gaza’s eastern boundary about a mile into Israeli territory, dozens of tanks topped with Israeli flags were parked in fields, with soldiers on standby. Clouds of dust covered the road in the wake of military vehicles on the move in what had become a huge staging ground. The Israeli military has begun calling up 18,000 more reservists, adding to the 50,000 already mobilized for the campaign.
Sirens signaling rockets sounded all night and into the morning across Israel’s south; the army counted more than 50 rockets from the 10 p.m. start of its ground invasion until 7 a.m. Friday. “We chose to go to this operation after we exhausted the other options and with the understanding that without this operation the price we pay will be much higher,” Mr. Netanyahu said in a nationally televised address shortly before noon from the military headquarters in Tel Aviv, where he had convened his top ministers. Mr. Netanyahu said he had talked to world leaders to create “the international space, something that should not be taken for granted, so we can act systematically and with power against a murderous terror organization and its partners.”
Israel’s Erez crossing into Gaza was closed to all traffic, including foreign journalists, a spokesman said, and the home front command banned gatherings of more than 1,000 people as far north as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Sirens signaling rocket attacks sounded all night and into the morning across Israel’s south; the army counted more than 50 rockets from the 10 p.m. start of its ground invasion on Thursday until 7 a.m. on Friday.
The Erez crossing into Gaza was closed to all traffic, including foreign journalists, a spokesman said, and the Home Front Command banned gatherings of more than 1,000 people as far north as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
In the communities close to Gaza, summer camps were canceled and groups of more than 300 were not allowed.In the communities close to Gaza, summer camps were canceled and groups of more than 300 were not allowed.
Men under 50 were barred from the Al Aqsa compound in Jerusalem’s Old City for Friday prayers, a major event especially during the current Muslim holy month of Ramadan, but one that often brings clashes between Palestinians and Israeli forces even during otherwise calm times. Men under 50 were barred from Al Aksa Mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem for Friday prayers, which are a major event especially during the current Muslim holy month of Ramadan, but which often bring clashes between Palestinians and Israeli forces even during otherwise calm times.
Khaled Meshal, political leader of Hamas, the Islamist movement that dominates Gaza and has led the battle against Israel that began July 8, told Agence France-Presse from his base in Qatar on Friday that the ground operation was “bound to fail.” Khaled Meshal, the political leader of Hamas, the Islamist movement that dominates Gaza and has led the battle against Israel that began July 8, told Agence France-Presse from his base in Qatar on Friday that the ground operation was “bound to fail.”
“What the occupier Israel failed to achieve through its air and sea raids, it will not be able to achieve with a ground offensive,” Mr. Meshal was quoted as saying by the agency.“What the occupier Israel failed to achieve through its air and sea raids, it will not be able to achieve with a ground offensive,” Mr. Meshal was quoted as saying by the agency.
President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority, whose meetings in Cairo on Wednesday and Thursday failed to produce a cease-fire agreement, told reporters there that the ground operation would “lead to more bloodshed and complicate efforts to end the aggression,” according to Wafa, the official Palestinian news agency. Mr. Abbas was scheduled to travel to Turkey and perhaps Qatar on Friday to continue cease-fire discussions. President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority, whose meetings in Cairo on Wednesday and Thursday failed to produce a cease-fire agreement, told reporters there that the ground operation would “lead to more bloodshed and complicate efforts to end the aggression,” according to WAFA, the official Palestinian news agency. Mr. Abbas was scheduled to travel to Turkey and perhaps Qatar on Friday to continue cease-fire discussions.
In Ankara, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s pro-Islamic government strongly condemned the Israeli ground operation and prepared to request a United Nations Security Council extraordinary session to have the operation halted, the foreign ministry said. In Ankara, the Turkish capital, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s pro-Islamic government strongly condemned the Israeli ground operation and was preparing a request for an extraordinary session of the United Nations Security Council to have the operation halted, the Foreign Ministry said.
In the West Bank city of Hebron, families of the three men that the Israeli authorities have said are the prime suspects in the June 12 abduction and subsequent murder of three Israeli teenagers — a crime that Israel blamed on Hamas and that began the escalation that led to the war in Gaza — received notices that their homes would be demolished at 10 a.m. Friday. Israeli forces damaged the homes weeks ago. In the West Bank city of Hebron, the families of the three men that the Israeli authorities have said are the prime suspects in the June 12 abduction and subsequent murder of three Israeli teenagers — a crime that Israel blamed on Hamas and that began the escalation that led to the war in Gaza — received notices that their homes would be demolished at 10 a.m. Friday. Israeli forces damaged the homes weeks ago.
On Thursday, three ultra-Orthodox Israeli Jews, a 29-year-old with a history of psychiatric problems and two of his teenage relatives, were indicted for the kidnapping and killing of a 16-year-old Palestinian boy in Jerusalem on July 2, an apparent revenge attack the morning after the three Israeli teens’ funerals. On Thursday, three ultra-Orthodox Israeli Jews, a 29-year-old with a history of psychiatric problems and two of his teenage relatives, were indicted on charges of kidnapping and killing a 16-year-old Palestinian boy in Jerusalem on July 2 in an apparent revenge attack the morning after the three Israeli teenagers’ funerals.
Secretary of State John Kerry spoke to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel after the ground forces moved into Gaza and urged a “precise” operation focused on the tunnels, as Mr. Netanyahu’s office and other senior Israeli leaders had indicated as it was announced. Secretary of State John Kerry of the United States spoke to Mr. Netanyahu after the ground forces moved into Gaza. Mr. Kerry urged a “precise” operation focused on the tunnels, as Mr. Netanyahu’s office and other senior Israeli leaders had indicated as the operation was announced.
“The secretary emphasized the need to avoid further escalation” and urged a cease-fire based on a proposal presented by Egypt earlier this week, according to a State Department statement. “The secretary also reiterated our concern about the safety and security of civilians on both sides and the importance of doing everything possible to prevent civilian casualties.”“The secretary emphasized the need to avoid further escalation” and urged a cease-fire based on a proposal presented by Egypt earlier this week, according to a State Department statement. “The secretary also reiterated our concern about the safety and security of civilians on both sides and the importance of doing everything possible to prevent civilian casualties.”
The United Nations estimates that three-quarters of the Palestinians killed in the operation were not militants, including more than 50 children. Palestinian health officials counted at least 17 minors killed in the past 48 hours: four were felled in an airstrike as they played on a Gaza City rooftop around 6 p.m. Thursday, and four others — cousins — were bombed as they kicked a ball on the beach around 4 p.m. Wednesday. The United Nations estimates that three-quarters of the Palestinians killed in the operation were not militants and that the victims included more than 50 children. Palestinian health officials have counted at least 17 minors killed in the past 48 hours: four were killed in an airstrike as they played on a Gaza City rooftop at around 6 p.m. on Thursday, and four others — cousins — were bombed as they kicked a ball on the beach at around 4 p.m. on Wednesday.
The United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, said overnight that he regretted the ground offensive and urged Israel to “do more” to prevent civilian casualties, news agencies reported, while France’s foreign minister, Laurent Fabius, called on Israel to show “utmost restraint.” The United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, said overnight that he regretted the ground offensive and urged Israel to “do more” to prevent civilian casualties, news agencies reported, while the French foreign minister, Laurent Fabius, called on Israel to show “utmost restraint.”
Mr. Netanyahu said Friday that Israel’s is “a moral army like no other,” and “does not aspire to hurt even one innocent person, not even one.” He blamed Hamas and other militant groups for using “their citizens as human shields,” and said he was “sorry for every mistaken strike on civilians.” Mr. Netanyahu said on Friday that Israel’s is “a moral army like no other,” and “does not aspire to hurt even one innocent person, not even one.” He blamed Hamas and other militant groups for using “their citizens as human shields,” and said he was “sorry for every mistaken strike on civilians.”
Chris Gunness of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency said Friday that many people in the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis had been displaced by the violence. The agency, which serves the more than half of Gaza’s 1.7 million residents classified as Palestinian refugees, is sheltering about 22,000 Gazans in 23 spots in Gaza City and the north of the strip, Mr. Gunness said. Chris Gunness of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency said on Friday that many in the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis had been displaced by the violence. The agency, which serves the more than half of Gaza’s 1.7 million residents classified as Palestinian refugees, is sheltering about 22,000 Gazans in 23 spots in Gaza City and in the north of the strip, Mr. Gunness said.
In Canada, a staunch ally of Israel, Foreign Minister John Baird said the ground incursion “could have been avoided” if Hamas had accepted Egypt’s cease-fire proposal, as Israel initially did, and said the Gaza group therefore “bears responsibility for the further tragic loss of life.”In Canada, a staunch ally of Israel, Foreign Minister John Baird said the ground incursion “could have been avoided” if Hamas had accepted Egypt’s cease-fire proposal, as Israel initially did, and said the Gaza group therefore “bears responsibility for the further tragic loss of life.”
The Israeli military released footage of a captain giving his soldiers a last-minute briefing before heading into Gaza.The Israeli military released footage of a captain giving his soldiers a last-minute briefing before heading into Gaza.
“I don’t think I need to explain to you why we are doing what we are doing,” he said, according to a translation posted on the Times of Israel news site. “I am confident in what we are doing, because it is our right to be free in our land. It’s not a slogan, it’s the truth.”“I don’t think I need to explain to you why we are doing what we are doing,” he said, according to a translation posted on the Times of Israel news site. “I am confident in what we are doing, because it is our right to be free in our land. It’s not a slogan, it’s the truth.”