12:40 PM - 17 Nov 12 · Details
Israeli soldiers work on their APCs in a staging ground near the border with Gaza Strip, November 16, 2012. Photo by AP
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A Hebrew text signed by Hamas' al-Aqtsa Brigades, sent to many Israelis, reading, 'We will turn Gaza into a cemetery for your soldiers and will turn Tel Aviv into a flame.' November 17, 2012.
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As Operation Pillar of Defense enters its fourth day, the Israel Defense Forces continues to prepare for a ground invasion of Gaza, drafting thousands of army reservists.
The IDF struck dozens of targets in the Gaza Strip overnight, including the office building of Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh and a police building.
After a relatively quiet night in Israel's south, rockets were fired Saturday morning toward Israel's south. On Friday, rockets that were fired toward Tel Aviv and Jerusalem exploded in open areas.
Since the beginning of Operation Pillar of Defense, 35 Palestinians were killed, some of them civilians. On the Israeli side three civilians were killed on Friday in a rocket attack.
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6:30 P.M. In a meeting Saturday with Egyptian intelligence officials, senior Hamas officials demanded Egypt ease the blockade on Gaza and Israel provide assurances that it will keep its side of a ceasefire and especially refrain from assassinating Hamas leaders in exchange for a ceasefire. Palestinian sources told Haaretz the Hamas was not asking Israel to lift the naval blockade on the coastal enclave rather that Egypt allow a free flow of goods through the Rafah Crossing. Cairo rejected this. (Haaretz)
6:15 P.M. IAF fires at the home of Senior Hamas commander A-Din Hazaz. It is still not known whether he was home at the time. (Haaretz)
6:10 P.M. Senior Hamas leader Osama Qadi attacked in a joint Shin Bet IDF operation, his condition is still unknown. (Haaretz)
5:32 P.M. Since beginning of Pillar of Defense, 246 rockets fired at residential areas were intercepted by Iron Dome batteries; 57 rockets exploded in Israel on Saturday, bringing the total of rockets exploding in Israel since beginning of operation to 410.
5:15 P.M. Iron Dome intercepts five rockets over Ashkelon (Yanir Yagna)
4:57 P.M. Rocket explodes in open field at the Bnei Shimon Regional council; Iron Dome intercepts rocket over Sderot (Yanir Yagna)
4:50 P.M. Rocket warning sirens sound in Be'er Sheva.
4:44 P.M. Rocket intercepted over Tel Aviv area. No wounded or damage reported.
4:35 P.M. Two explosions heard in Tel Aviv area after rocket warning sirens sound.
4:17 P.M. Minister Avi Dichter: Only a few rockets threaten Tel Aviv, unlike greater danger facing towns in Israel's south (Ilan Lior)
4:01 P.M. Iron Dome intercepts 2 rockets fired by Gaza militants at Be'er Sheva (Yanir Yagna)
4:00 P.M. Social protest leader Stav Shaffir: "The coming together of Israeli citizens in the face of security threats shows how strong our society is. But, without strong social standing there is no strong security standing."
