Going on Day 22

As the conflict in Gaza between IDF forces and Hamas militants grinds on into its 22nd day, the tit for tat exchanges of rocket fire and airstrikes that were taking place earlier in the day throughout the strip are now escalating once again with threatened IDF moves towards central and northern Gaza. The heavy battles of previous days had slightly abated over the weekend as ceasefire talks intensified, however, not surprisingly, in large part thanks to John Kerry, things fell apart rather quickly. Hamas, while severely damaged has still shown a willingness and capability to launch brazen attacks on Israel, the results of which were responsible for the deaths of five IDF soldiers today. Four from a mortar attack on the border and one other soldier in Khan Younis in a separate incident.

Hamas also incorporated the firing of a long range rocket fired towards Haifa into their array of attacks for today. Thankfully, the rocket disintegrated mid flight and did not result in any harm or damage. More so though, an additional tunnel infiltration attack into southern Israel near Nahal Oz occurred. Numerous Hamas militants engaged responding IDF forces in a firefight. One terrorist was reported killed, while the rest were presumed to have escaped. Heavy Israeli artillery fire was directed into Gaza, specially towards the Maghazi refugee camp following the attack.

The IDF has repeated the mantra that quiet will be answered with quiet, but it doesn't seem like this is proposal that's being heeded on the other side.

Here, soldiers rest on the Israeli side of the border while taking advantage of the brief lull in the fighting earlier yesterday.

AFP

AFP