(Denver, Colorado) — “Hamas is in crisis,” says the former head of IDF operations.
“Major General (res.) Israel Ziv says movement has got itself into “conundrum” since the Gaza op started, with hardly any significant accomplishments, adds that “they are fighting now because they’re not sure they’ll get a second chance,” reports Ynet News.
Unconfirmed reports out of Israel say the IDF has now identified and destroyed 85% of the Hamas terror tunnels.
Now comes word of a 72-hour cease fire. Will it hold? We shall see.
Here’s what we know so far:
“Israel and Hamas have agreed to a 72-hour humanitarian ceasefire beginning Friday, during which time there will be negotiations on a more durable truce in the 24-day-old Gaza war, the United States and United Nations announced Thursday,” reports the Associated Press. “The announcement came hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to destroy Hamas’s tunnel network “with or without a ceasefire” and as the Palestinian death toll soared past 1,400 (including hundreds of Hamas gunmen).”
“Netanyahu on Thursday said that Israel will continue to destroy infiltration tunnels from Gaza regardless of ceasefire efforts,” reported Haaretz.
“I won’t agree to any proposal that will not enable the Israeli military to complete this important task for the sake of Israel’s security,” he said.
Reuters reported that “Hamas said it would abide by a three-day mutual cease-fire with Israel to begin early on Friday. ‘Acknowledging a call by the United Nations and in consideration of the situation of our people, resistance factions agreed to a 72-hour humanitarian and mutual calm that begins at 8 a.m on Friday as long as the other side abides by it,’ Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said. ‘All the Palestinian factions are united behind the issue in this regard.'”
“Thursday saw 90 rockets fired at Israel, several Israelis hurt by mortar fire, ongoing IDF strikes at Hamas targets in Gaza and tunnel demolitions, and US criticism of an Israeli strike that killed a reported 15 people at a UN school in Gaza on Wednesday,” noted the Times of Israel. “Fifty-six soldiers and three civilians have been killed on the Israeli side in the 24 days of fighting, while Gazan health officials put the death toll there at over 1,400. Israel says several hundreds of those are Hamas fighters. Fifty-six soldiers and three civilians have been killed on the Israeli side in the 24 days of fighting, while Gazan health officials put the death toll there at over 1,400. Israel says several hundreds of those are Hamas fighters.”
Developing….
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