Ceasefire once again violated by rocket fire
3 rockets were fired from Gaza Tuesday afternoon, violating the ceasefire. In response, the IDF targeted terror sites in the Gaza Strip. Israel will not negotiate under fire. A total of 50 rockets from Gaza were fired on Tuesday, 30 so far today.
August 20
Rocket fire directed at cities and communities in southern Israel continues since 6 am.
August 19
At about 3:30 pm, three rockets fired from Gaza hit Beersheva and Netivot, violating the ceasefire.
The rocket fire on Israel today was a gross violation of the ceasefire. This is the eleventh ceasefire that Hamas has either rejected or violated.
Following the renewed rocket fire, the IDF struck terrorist targets in Gaza.
Israel will not negotiate under fire; the Cairo talks were premised on the cessation of all hostilities. The Israeli negotiating team has been called back from Cairo as a result of today’s rocket fire.
Rockets struck throughout southern Israel, including a shopping center in the Ashkelon coast region, as well as in Tel Aviv and, shortly before midnight, the Jerusalem area. A total of 50 rockets were fired from Gaza during the day.
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Second group of wounded Palestinians to leave Gaza for Turkey
17 Palestinians wounded during the recent conflict will be flown to Turkey for medical treatment, under Israel’s international humanitarian cooperation policy following Operation Protective Edge.
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Palestinian civilians transferred to ambulances at Erez Crossing
Copyright: COGAT |
(Communicated by the Foreign Ministry Spokesperson)
Seventeen Palestinians, who were wounded during the recent conflict, will be flown today to Turkey for medical treatment, under Israel’s international humanitarian cooperation policyfollowing Operation Protective Edge. Each patient will be accompanied by one family member.
Last week (August 13), a first group, consisting of 19 patients and their accompanying relatives, left Gaza and flew to Turkey through Ben Gurion Airport, with the approval and coordination of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and COGAT (Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories). One of the patients passed away while in hospital in Turkey, and his body will be returned today to Gaza.
Following the announcement of the ceasefire, the Foreign Ministry of Turkey approached Israel with the request to transfer wounded Palestinians from Gaza for treatment in Turkey. The Israeli MFA, coordinating with COGAT, approved the request for transfer by MDA ambulances to Ben Gurion Airport, and from there to Turkey.
The Palestinian patients were diagnosed in Gaza hospitals by Turkish physicians, who evaluated their medical condition and determined their ability to be flown.
Humanitarian aid to Gaza continues
Despite the constant rocket fire into Israel during Operation Protective Edge, the Kerem Shalom crossing remained open, providing food and essential supplies for the residents of the Gaza Strip.
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Gaza Strip Land Crossings Activity
Copyright: IDF Spokesperson |
On August 13th, a five-day humanitarian ceasefire went into effect, and was then extended for 24 hours. This ceasefire was particularly important in order to facilitate humanitarian efforts on the ground and enable an assessment of infrastructural damage.
The ceasefire was broken by rocket fire from Gaza on the afternoon of August 18.
On August 18, before the ceasefire was broken, 240 trucks carrying 4,303 tons of goods and supplies entered Gaza via Kerem Shalom Crossing. Among the trucks that entered were:
• 113 trucks carrying 2,475 tons of food
• 6 trucks carrying 26 tons of medicine and medical supplies
• 61 trucks carrying 562 tons of humanitarian supplies
• 2 trucks carrying 30 tons of agricultural inputs
Since the beginning of Operation Protective Edge (8 July) 4,431 trucks have entered Gaza Strip via the Kerem Shalom crossing, carrying food, medicines and medical equipment.
Since the beginning of the operation the following amounts were provided to the Palestinians via the Kerem Shalom crossing (data up to and including August 18):
- 4.44 million liters of diesel for the power station in Gaza Strip, 1.53 million liters for UNRWA
- 7.68 million liters of fuel
- 3.64 million liters of gasoline for transportation
- 3,773 tons of gas for domestic needs
Erez Crossing: Since the beginning of the operation, 3,690 Palestinians have entered Israel from Gaza and 2,658 crossed from Israel into Gaza. A total of 227 ambulance transfers have been carried out through Erez since July 8.
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