Smoke trails are seen as rockets are launched towards Israel from the northern Gaza Strip July 12, 2014. Hamas militants launched ten rockets at Tel Aviv on Saturday, causing no casualties or damage, in the largest salvo yet on Israel's main business hub, since Israel launched its Gaza offensive against the Islamist group, five days ago. Picture shot using a long exposure. REUTERS/Amir Cohen
A Palestinian protester holds a picture of Gaza's victims as he argues with an Israeli army soldier during a protest against Israeli air strikes on Gaza, at Hawara checkpoint near the the West Bank city of Nablus July 12, 2014. Israel rushed an eighth missile interceptor battery into service on Saturday to counter stronger-than-expected rocket fire from Gaza as the military pounded positions in the Palestinian enclave for a fifth day, killing 15 people, medics said. The Jewish state kept options open for a possible ground offensive into densely populated Gaza despite international pressure to negotiate a ceasefire in the conflict, which has killed 121 in the Islamist-ruled enclave since Tuesday. REUTERS/Abed Omar Qusini
The Israeli military said navy commandos attacked a facility in Gaza from which Hamas launched long-range rockets early Sunday, local time, the sixth day of Israel’s “Operation Protective Edge”. The raid left four commandos injured by Hamas gunfire and followed barrages fired against Tel Aviv.
1/2 BREAKING: IDF forces raided a site used to fire long-range rockets at Israel. The mission was accomplished
Israel News Feed reported the military conducted at least 1,220 strikes against Gaza, targeting 632 rocket launch sites, 130 military bases, 220 terror tunnels and other sites.
The Jerusalem Post reported Iron Dome intercepted three rockets over the Tel Aviv metropolitan area. Since Monday night, militants have fired some 800 rockets at Israel.
Late Saturday, Hamas’s military wing, the al-Qassam Brigade, issued a televised statement in both Arabic and Hebrew, warning Israel a barrage of J-80 rockets would be fired toward Tel Aviv within an hour.
A few minutes after 9 p.m. air raid sirens rang in Tel Aviv, Herzliya and the Sharon Plain. Meanwhile, the IDF said it targeted the rocket launcher in northern Gaza responsible for the Tel Aviv attack.
three big deflection booms in central tel aviv, ground shook
In retaliation for the Tel Aviv attack, the IDF commenced another series of strikes across Gaza using both warplanes and, according to reports from journalists on the ground, ships. According to Palestinian officials, the death toll has now surpassed 150 and most of the victims are civilians. More than 1,000 people have been injured.
Just heard 12 huge booms from #Gaza's marina. Israeli ships are firing at Gaza in full force in response to tonight's rockets.
Earlier Saturday the U.N. Security Council issued a statement calling "for de-escalation of the situation, restoration of calm and reinstitution of the November 2012 cease-fire." While the statement did not condemn either side, it highlighted the destruction taking place in Gaza.
#IDF will convey messages to the ppl in northern #Gaza requesting them to evacuate homes due to danger in remaining in proximity to #Hamas
Despite the U.N.’s call for a truce, Israeli airstrikes will only increase, a senior Israeli officer told Haaretz. The officer said the IDF is preparing to ask those living in northern Gaza to evacuate their homes, yet another sign pointing to a possible ground invasion. Those close to the border have already been asked to leave, the IDF said.
"This is a highly moral measure," the officer told Haaretz. “The evacuation allows greater freedom of operation in the area. We, as an orderly country, issue warnings before striking those who want to kill our citizens.”
