Tensions spiral in Jerusalem, Israel’s southern front
Israel is seething with conflict between Jews and Arabs with increasing tension in the West Bank, rocket fire from Gaza and with fear of escalation on the northern border.
Israel completely closed off Gaza's fishing zone this morning. The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) Rassan Alian had said earlier that the Gaza fishing zone would be restricted from 15 to nine nautical miles, but after repeated rocket fire from the Strip toward the south of Israel, it was closed entirely. So far, the Israel Defense Forces have not responded militarily.
COGAT said in a statement, “Hamas is held accountable for all that is done in and from the Gaza Strip towards Israel, and it will bear the consequences for the violence committed against the citizens of the State of Israel.” Two Gaza factions, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and a branch of Fatah’s Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, had claimed responsibility for the Friday-Saturday rocket fire.
Rockets have been fired from Gaza toward Israel three nights in a row. The Iron Dome anti-missile defense system intercepted two of the five projectiles overnight on Sunday. Reportedly, four people were lightly wounded after falling while running to bomb shelters early this morning. Some 40 rockets were fired into Israel over the weekend, with some projectiles launched toward the Mediterranean Sea on Saturday in an apparent show of force.
Defense Minister Benny Gantz met this morning with the United Nations’ envoy to the region Tor Wennesland to discuss the situation on Israel’s southern border. After the meeting, Gantz tweeted, "I expressed the urgency of the immediate cessation of violence from Gaza and reiterated Israel’s unyielding commitment to protecting citizens and sovereignty." Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met on Saturday with Gantz and IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi, ordering them to prepare for any scenario. Israel’s security cabinet is set to meet this afternoon to discuss the escalation. On the backdrop of the Gaza fire, Kochavi canceled his scheduled trip to the United States yesterday.
