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Gaza Cease-Fire Collapses; Israeli Soldier Is Captured Gaza Cease-Fire Collapses; Israeli Soldier Is Captured
(about 3 hours later)
JERUSALEM — A newly reached cease-fire in the Gaza conflict collapsed soon after it came into effect on Friday as the Israeli military announced that two soldiers had been killed and a third apparently captured by Palestinian militants who emerged from a tunnel near Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. JERUSALEM — A newly reached cease-fire in the Gaza conflict quickly collapsed on Friday as the Israeli military announced that two soldiers had been killed and a third apparently captured by Palestinian militants who emerged from a tunnel near Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.
Gaza health officials said 35 Palestinians had been killed and more than 100 wounded as Israeli forces bombarded the area. Palestinian witnesses said by telephone that Israeli tank shells had hit eastern Rafah as residents returned to inspect homes they had evacuated.Gaza health officials said 35 Palestinians had been killed and more than 100 wounded as Israeli forces bombarded the area. Palestinian witnesses said by telephone that Israeli tank shells had hit eastern Rafah as residents returned to inspect homes they had evacuated.
Hamas accused Israel of violating the truce, saying in a statement that the announcement about the capture of an Israeli soldiers was intended “to cover up the barbaric massacres, especially in Rafah.” Each side accused the other of violating the 72-hour truce, which disintegrated in less than two hours.
Hamas, the dominant militant group in Gaza, said in a statement that Israel’s announcement about the capture of an Israeli soldier was intended “to cover up the barbaric massacres, especially in Rafah.”
Hamas did not claim responsibility for seizing the soldier, adding another layer of confusion. Hamas’s military wing, the Qassam Brigades, issued an ambiguous statement several hours after the event denying that it had violated the cease-fire and saying that Israeli troops had advanced into eastern Rafah well before the cease-fire’s 8 a.m. start. It made no mention of a soldier’s capture.
“Due to this Zionist invasion, our holy fighters clashed with the forces and killed a large number at 7 a.m.,” the statement said. It added, “We emphasize that any Zionist forces violating our liberated land would be subject to our holy fighters’ fire and a legitimate target.”
Moussa Abu Marzouk, a senior official in the political wing of Hamas, had been quoted by Turkish news reports earlier Friday as saying that Hamas had taken a soldier captive but claiming that it had done so before the cease-fire began. Later Mr. Abu Marzouk said on his Twitter account that the Turkish news accounts had misrepresented his remarks and that he had said only that Hamas was told a soldier had been seized.
Israel’s military vehemently denied Hamas’s account of the timing of the clash, saying it began 90 minutes after the cease-fire took hold.
Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, a spokesman for the Israeli military, said that government forces had been moving to destroy a tunnel, as the terms of the cease-fire allowed for, when several militants came out of the ground.Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, a spokesman for the Israeli military, said that government forces had been moving to destroy a tunnel, as the terms of the cease-fire allowed for, when several militants came out of the ground.
Colonel Lerner said the militants included at least one suicide attacker. There was an exchange of fire, he said, and initial indications were that a soldier was dragged back into the tunnel. He was unable to offer details about the soldier’s condition.Colonel Lerner said the militants included at least one suicide attacker. There was an exchange of fire, he said, and initial indications were that a soldier was dragged back into the tunnel. He was unable to offer details about the soldier’s condition.
Colonel Lerner said the episode began around 9:30 a.m., roughly 90 minutes after the 72-hour cease-fire came into effect.
“The cease-fire is over,” he said, adding that the military was carrying out “extensive operations on the ground” to try to locate the missing soldier.“The cease-fire is over,” he said, adding that the military was carrying out “extensive operations on the ground” to try to locate the missing soldier.
The Israeli military identified the missing soldier as Second Lt. Hadar Goldin, a 23-year-old officer in an infantry brigade. The Israeli military identified the missing soldier as Second Lt. Hadar Goldin, a 23-year-old officer in an infantry brigade. Later the soldier’s father, Simcha Goldin, speaking to journalists outside his home in Kfar Saba, Israel, said he was confident that Israel’s military forces would “not stop under any circumstances until they have turned over every stone in Gaza and have brought Hadar home healthy and whole.”
After the initial publication of this article, the military’s censor informed The New York Times that further information related to the soldier would have to be submitted for prior review. Journalists for foreign news organizations must agree in writing to the military censorship system to work in Israel. This was the first censorship notification The Times had received in more than two years. After the initial publication of this article, the military’s censor informed The New York Times that further information related to Lieutenant Goldin would have to be submitted for prior review. Journalists for foreign news organizations must agree in writing to the military censorship system to work in Israel. This was the first censorship notification The Times had received in more than two years.
Moussa Abu Marzouk, a senior official in the political wing of Hamas, the Islamic group that dominates Gaza, told the Turkish news media that Hamas had taken a soldier captive but claimed the event took place before the cease-fire began.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel spoke with Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday afternoon, according to a statement from his office. “The Palestinians have blatantly and unilaterally violated the humanitarian cease-fire and attacked our soldiers after 9 a.m.” Mr. Netanyahu told Mr. Kerry the statement said, adding that “Hamas and the other terrorist organizations in Gaza would bear the consequences of their acts.”Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel spoke with Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday afternoon, according to a statement from his office. “The Palestinians have blatantly and unilaterally violated the humanitarian cease-fire and attacked our soldiers after 9 a.m.” Mr. Netanyahu told Mr. Kerry the statement said, adding that “Hamas and the other terrorist organizations in Gaza would bear the consequences of their acts.”
The cease-fire, negotiated by the United States and the United Nations, came as a surprise and was announced in a statement by Mr. Kerry in the middle of the night in India, where he had met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s office in New York. Both Mr. Kerry and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon of the United Nations, which had arranged the cease-fire, denounced the reported capture of the soldier.
On Friday, the White House condemned the apparent capture of the Israeli soldier. Tony Blinken, President Obama’s deputy national security adviser, said Hamas had used “the cover of a cease-fire to conduct a surprise attack through a tunnel, killing Israeli soldiers, and perhaps taking one hostage.” Mr. Ban, who has been especially critical of Israel over the civilian deaths in Gaza, said in a statement that if Hamas was responsible, it would “constitute a grave violation of the cease-fire, and one that is likely to have very serious consequences for the people of Gaza, Israel and beyond.” Mr. Ban also said such behavior would “call into question the credibility of Hamas’ assurances to the United Nations.”
The cease-fire came as a surprise and was announced in a statement by Mr. Kerry in the middle of the night in India, where he had met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and by Secretary General Ban’s office in New York.
On Friday, the White House added to the condemnations of the reported capture of the Israeli soldier. Tony Blinken, President Obama’s deputy national security adviser, said Hamas had used “the cover of a cease-fire to conduct a surprise attack through a tunnel, killing Israeli soldiers, and perhaps taking one hostage.”
Speaking on MSNBC, Mr. Blinken said American officials “strongly, strongly condemn it.”Speaking on MSNBC, Mr. Blinken said American officials “strongly, strongly condemn it.”
“Israel has the right to defend itself,” he said, “and it’s obviously taking action to do so. But this is an outrageous action, and we look to the rest of the world to join us in condemning it.”“Israel has the right to defend itself,” he said, “and it’s obviously taking action to do so. But this is an outrageous action, and we look to the rest of the world to join us in condemning it.”
Hostilities had continued overnight, with Israeli airstrikes and shelling that killed 14 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials. Militants fired rockets into Israel until minutes before the 8 a.m. deadline.Hostilities had continued overnight, with Israeli airstrikes and shelling that killed 14 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials. Militants fired rockets into Israel until minutes before the 8 a.m. deadline.
The announcement of the cease-fire came after several shorter humanitarian truces had fallen apart over the past week. The latest cease-fire appeared to be more significant, with Israeli and Palestinian negotiators scheduled to head to Cairo this weekend for formal talks on the conflict, which has resulted in the deaths of more than 1,400 Palestinians and 66 on the Israeli side. The announcement of the cease-fire came after several shorter humanitarian truces had fallen apart over the past week. The latest cease-fire appeared to be more significant, with Israeli and Palestinian negotiators scheduled to head to Cairo this weekend for formal talks on the conflict, which has resulted in the deaths of nearly 1,500 Palestinians and 66 on the Israeli side.
Under the terms of the temporary truce, Israeli forces were permitted to remain in place inside Gaza to continue destroying the labyrinth of tunnels that Mr. Netanyahu has said were the prime target of the Israeli ground operation. Both sides said they would respond if fired upon.Under the terms of the temporary truce, Israeli forces were permitted to remain in place inside Gaza to continue destroying the labyrinth of tunnels that Mr. Netanyahu has said were the prime target of the Israeli ground operation. Both sides said they would respond if fired upon.
Bassel Qeshta, a resident of Rafah, said by telephone that the city was under heavy artillery fire and that shells were landing “like rain.” He said the Israeli forces were also carrying out airstrikes.Bassel Qeshta, a resident of Rafah, said by telephone that the city was under heavy artillery fire and that shells were landing “like rain.” He said the Israeli forces were also carrying out airstrikes.
“The forces are advancing into Rafah under a cover from the airplanes,” he said.“The forces are advancing into Rafah under a cover from the airplanes,” he said.
Israel has asserted throughout the Gaza campaign, now in its 25th day, that Hamas was trying to capture a soldier, presumably as a hostage to exchange for its prisoners in Israeli jails. Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier who was captured by militants in a cross-border raid in 2006, was held captive by Hamas for five years. He was eventually exchanged for more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, many of them convicted of deadly attacks against Israelis.Israel has asserted throughout the Gaza campaign, now in its 25th day, that Hamas was trying to capture a soldier, presumably as a hostage to exchange for its prisoners in Israeli jails. Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier who was captured by militants in a cross-border raid in 2006, was held captive by Hamas for five years. He was eventually exchanged for more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, many of them convicted of deadly attacks against Israelis.
In the current conflict, the Israeli military says it has found handcuffs and tranquilizers in tunnels it exposed, presumably in preparation for abductions. In the current conflict, the Israeli military says it has found handcuffs and tranquilizers in tunnels it exposed, presumably in preparation for captures.
Hamas’s military wing released video footage of the group’s gunmen infiltrating Israeli territory through a tunnel earlier this week and carrying out an attack against a small military outpost near the border community of Nahal Oz. Five Israeli soldiers were killed in the assault. The video appeared to show the gunmen trying to drag one of their bodies with them. The Israeli military said that attempt failed after another soldier opened fire on them.Hamas’s military wing released video footage of the group’s gunmen infiltrating Israeli territory through a tunnel earlier this week and carrying out an attack against a small military outpost near the border community of Nahal Oz. Five Israeli soldiers were killed in the assault. The video appeared to show the gunmen trying to drag one of their bodies with them. The Israeli military said that attempt failed after another soldier opened fire on them.
Regarding the suspected capture of a soldier on Friday, Amos Yadlin, a former chief of Israel’s military intelligence directorate, said, “I think that what happened here is that the details of the cease-fire were not sufficiently clarified.” Regarding the suspected capture of Lieutenant Goldin, Amos Yadlin, a former chief of Israel’s military intelligence directorate, said, “I think that what happened here is that the details of the cease-fire were not sufficiently clarified.”
In an interview with Israel Radio, Mr. Yadlin said the Israeli military would not leave Gaza until it completed the destruction of the tunnels, even during a cease-fire. “It is not completely clear to me if this was clear to Hamas,” he said.In an interview with Israel Radio, Mr. Yadlin said the Israeli military would not leave Gaza until it completed the destruction of the tunnels, even during a cease-fire. “It is not completely clear to me if this was clear to Hamas,” he said.
Mr. Yadlin, who now directs the Institute for National Security Studies at Tel Aviv University, also said it was possible that the militants who emerged from the tunnel on Friday were cut off and did not know of the cease-fire. “In the absence of any command and control, “he said, “it could be that they emerged to commit a ‘preset’ attack that it had prepared earlier.”Mr. Yadlin, who now directs the Institute for National Security Studies at Tel Aviv University, also said it was possible that the militants who emerged from the tunnel on Friday were cut off and did not know of the cease-fire. “In the absence of any command and control, “he said, “it could be that they emerged to commit a ‘preset’ attack that it had prepared earlier.”
The capture of soldiers strikes a deep chord in Israeli society, where most 18-year-olds are conscripted for up to three years of compulsory military service.The capture of soldiers strikes a deep chord in Israeli society, where most 18-year-olds are conscripted for up to three years of compulsory military service.
Israel’s security cabinet was expected to meet later Friday to discuss its options.Israel’s security cabinet was expected to meet later Friday to discuss its options.
Israel Ziv, a retired Israeli general and former commander of the military’s Gaza division, said Israel would have to pursue a “new strategy” in Gaza.Israel Ziv, a retired Israeli general and former commander of the military’s Gaza division, said Israel would have to pursue a “new strategy” in Gaza.
“Israel will have to reassess its strategy and to move ahead,” he told reporters on Friday. There were several available plans, he said, including a step-by-step increase of pressure on the urban centers in Gaza. “If they want to prevent escalation, they have to return Hadar immediately, without any conditions,” Mr. Ziv said, referring to the captured soldier.“Israel will have to reassess its strategy and to move ahead,” he told reporters on Friday. There were several available plans, he said, including a step-by-step increase of pressure on the urban centers in Gaza. “If they want to prevent escalation, they have to return Hadar immediately, without any conditions,” Mr. Ziv said, referring to the captured soldier.