Israel foils tunnel infiltration, rockets break ceasefire

An Iron Dome battery in transit near Sderot, Israel

JERUSALEM (VIDEO) — Israeli forces foiled a large infiltration attempt through a tunnel from Gaza.

It is believed the infiltrators were planning to carry out a major terror attack on an Israeli target, the IDF said in a statement. According to photos taken by the IDF, the infiltrators were carrying weapons including shoulder-mounted RPGs.

The IDF identified the 13 armed men exiting a tunnel inside Israel early Thursday morning, near Kibbutz Sufa close to the Gaza border.  Once the men realized they had been spotted they attempted to dive back into the tunnel, but were thwarted by an airstrike by Israel’s Air Force. The IDF said some of the infiltrators were injured.

Hours after the infiltration attempt, the IDF posted video  of the infiltration and the airstrike on the opening of the tunnel.

Hamas later took responsibility for the attempted infiltration, and said that all of its members returned home, according to the Times of Israel. Palestinian radio in Gaza falsely reported that the infiltrators killed and injured Israelis.

Residents of the kibbutz and near-by communities had been instructed to remain in their homes in the hours after the infiltration attempt, as Israeli troops searched the area.

 


IDF video of a thwarted terror attack from Gaza

 


Meanwhile, rockets fired from Gaza struck southern Israel two hours after a humanitarian ceasefire went into effect.

Israel observed an agreed upon humanitarian ceasefire announced July 16, halting its aerial fire on Gaza at 10 a.m. July 17 as agreed.

Two hours after the ceasefire began, rockets were fired on the Eshkol region near the Gaza border, in violation of the ceasefire. It is not known what group fired the rockets. Hamas was the only Gaza terror group to officially agree to the ceasefire.

The halt in fire on both sides is to give Palestinian civilians an opportunity to purchase food and other necessities. Most Gazan civilians have not ventured far from their homes since the start ten days ago of Operation Protective Edge. In addition to Gazans flooding supermarkets, it is reported that hundreds are lining up outside of an open branch of the Bank of Palestine in Gaza City.

Robert Serry, the United Nations special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, had asked Israel to hold its fire for humanitarian reasons and Israel agreed.

Prior to the start of the cease-fire on Thursday morning a salvo of multiple rockets was fired at several heavily populated cities in central Israel, including Tel Aviv, Petach Tikvah and Netanya.  One rocket was intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system, and the rest fell in open areas. Several rockets also were fired at Be'er Sheva.

Israel’s Air Force reportedly struck 37 targets in Gaza overnighton July 16-17. The Palestinian death toll since the beginning of the operation stands at 214, according to Palestinian reports. One Israeli civilian has been killed since the beginning of the operation.