Beersheba comes under rocket attack. IDF hits back at Hamas in widening cycle of Gaza conflict

Israeli aircraft struck Hamas positions in Gaza before dawn Saturday, Nov. 16, after Beersheba came under rocket attack Friday night. It was the first time the IDF had targeted Hamas for reprisals in the ongoing clash with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.  The two large Grad rockets that shook Beersheba’s population of quarter of a million were intercepted by Iron Dome. Nine people suffered minor injuries or shock as they ran for shelter in response to the rocket sirens.

The Islamic Jihad was making a point: Its rocket war on Israel was not over, although the IDF’s Home Command insisted on ending the war emergency after an agreed ceasefire went into force early Thursday to end the 450-rocket blitz that had shut down the towns and villages of the South for 48 hours. The IDF hailed its Operation Black Belt, launched with the killing of the Jihad senior commander Baha Abu Al-Atta, and the wrecking of its terrorist infrastructure in Gaza as a victory. Israel’s leaders refused to accept that the war was still ongoing – even when Jihad fired three salvos after the ceasefire. The IDF Home Command insisted that the local councils reopen schools and return to their normal routines. After disobeying the order on Friday, they agreed to restart classes on Sunday.

On Friday too, Hamas cancelled its regular weekly mass disturbance on the Gaza-Israel border, for the first time since it instituted the violent “March of Return” demonstration eighteen months ago, so as deny its smaller rival, the Islamic Jihad,  a pretext for violating the ceasefire brokered by the UN and Egypt.
DEBKAfile’s military sources note the Islamic Jihad did not need a pretext. On Friday night, after a quiet day, it attacked the major Israeli town nearest to the Gaza Strip, Beersheba, capital of the Negev. By persisting in their denials of the ongoing conflict, Israel’s strategists triggered its escalation.

Aside from the single attack on Tel Aviv, Islamic Jihad had hitherto avoided using its long-range rockets to reach Israeli populations at a distance from the Gaza Strip, and Hamas refrained from intervening in the contest. But when on Friday night, the Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh phoned his Islamic Jihad counterpart Zeyad al-Nakhala at his Beirut base with condolences for the death of Abu Al-Atta, the two Palestinians agreed to join forces to fight Israel. It is therefore possible that Hamas was responsible for the rocket fire on Beersheba, although this is not confirmed.

Israel returned to attacking Hamas early Saturday in response to is leaders’ decision to throw its support behind the Islamic Jihad once again. This decision scuttled the most hopeful outcome of the contest with Jihad: Hamas’ neutral stance. Israel reacted by reverting to the dead-end, tit-for-tat routine in the Gaza Strip, which presages constantly deteriorating security for the southern regions within range of terrorist aggression.

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48 thoughts on “Beersheba comes under rocket attack. IDF hits back at Hamas in widening cycle of Gaza conflict

  • Nov 16, 2019 @ 9:49 at 9:49
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    If someone speaks to you in a certain language, it’s prudent and honorable to reply in the same language for you to understand each other.
    Spike GBU 2500 pounds ordinance…….. NOTHING MORE

    • Nov 16, 2019 @ 20:04 at 20:04
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      @Robert… Agree, the Invasion of Israel in 1948-67-73, Lebanon Conflicts of 1987-2006, Intifada’s 1987-2005, Hamas Rocket Cast Lead, Pillar, & March of Return still cannot bring down Israel. Only makes Israel Stronger & the IDF will Outlast Opponents many Attacks! Hamas, Fatah, JIP & Iran won’t Succeed as they Bleed!

    • Nov 17, 2019 @ 11:46 at 11:46
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      Hilarious, yet probably a great idea

  • Nov 16, 2019 @ 10:38 at 10:38
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    The exhaust plumes from rocket launches in Gaza make it easy for Israel to pinpoint retaliatory strikes.

    Happy Nakba!

    • Nov 16, 2019 @ 13:54 at 13:54
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      Yes Happy Holocaust, ZioSwine!
      May you have many more.

      • Nov 16, 2019 @ 15:38 at 15:38
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        HAPPY HIV DAY TO YOUR SHARMOUTA MOTHER!

      • Nov 16, 2019 @ 17:53 at 17:53
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        How ’bout this comrade?

        From the River to the Sea,
        Pal-e-SWINE Will NEVER BE!

        Sadly for pigs like you, the Isrealies are NOT the unarmed Jews of WW2 or Khybar.

        Happy Nakba!

        🙂

        • Nov 16, 2019 @ 19:15 at 19:15
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          WOW..YOU ARE A REAL POET!

          • Nov 16, 2019 @ 21:46 at 21:46
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            And I didn’t even know it.

      • Nov 16, 2019 @ 18:20 at 18:20
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        NAKBA on your ummah sharmutta!
        Many more! Inshalla!!!

        • Nov 16, 2019 @ 19:16 at 19:16
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          MANY MORE SHARMOUTAS IN YOUR FAMILY

      • Nov 16, 2019 @ 20:25 at 20:25
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        @Holocaust… Survive all Centuries of Attempted Genocides under many Empires & Enemies of Freedom. Even Thrived more to Reestablish the Land of Judea, & will Live in Israel Forevermore! Inshallah!

      • Nov 16, 2019 @ 23:51 at 23:51
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        You Muslim Ignorant Pig, Crawl back into your cave , and enslave your women,

        • Nov 17, 2019 @ 23:37 at 23:37
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          @gladiator:nothing more to add ,well summarised

    • Nov 16, 2019 @ 19:42 at 19:42
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      TO: Marg Bar Iran and Pal-e-SWINE! Mr. Arm-Chair General, you forgot that terrorists firing small rockets quickly move away after they fire their rockets so by the time the Israeli Air Force gets to the spot, it is vacant. Or often, the terrorists fire their rockets , small or medium size, from a school yard, or next to a hospital or the roof of an apartment building knowing that Israel will always warn the inhabitants to vacate thus giving the terrorists additional time to escape.

      • Nov 17, 2019 @ 2:27 at 2:27
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        you always hide behind women’s skirts!!!

    • Nov 16, 2019 @ 20:36 at 20:36
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      @Junaid… ISIS in Captivity in Turkey, Burials Globally, & Still on the Run will just Kill more Iranian, Hizballah, Hamas, Iraqis, & PIJ from Previous Devious Blood Feuds. Mix Captured Prisoners in Turkish Camps & that is a Nightmare for both of them & all Enemies of Islam more than Israel. Shiia & Isis Hate Each Other More! InshAllah!

  • Nov 16, 2019 @ 14:53 at 14:53
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    put in action the orgues of Stalin for 24 hours non stop

  • Nov 16, 2019 @ 15:19 at 15:19
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    Time for disproportionate response .

    • Nov 16, 2019 @ 22:13 at 22:13
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      A disproportionate response should be Israels only response.

  • Nov 16, 2019 @ 16:50 at 16:50
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    Mission accomplished ? Give me a break.

    • Nov 16, 2019 @ 20:17 at 20:17
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      StrikeEagle… Disagree a tad, there is more Infighting going on in Gaza, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria & Iran than in Israel & that is Evidence that is a Good Thing. There is Time as Israel can Defend until the Time is Ripe for an Ultimate Fight! Let Hamas, JIP, Hizballah, Houthis & Iran continue to drain their Weapon Resources & Fight Riots by their own People in their own Lands!

  • Nov 16, 2019 @ 17:27 at 17:27
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    What is the cause of this continual weakness on outside? Is it Bibi, the Cabinet, the IDF leadership or all of the above. This is deeply troubling and frustrating.

    • Nov 16, 2019 @ 18:50 at 18:50
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      “What is the cause of this continual weakness on outside? Is it Bibi, the Cabinet, the IDF leadership or all of the above.”

      @Ari,

      It’s worrying about how the Europeans and Israel’s new “friends” in the Middle East would react if Israel defends itself too well and non-combatants in Gaza are hurt due to their close proximity to Hamas’ and PIJ’s missile launchers.

    • Nov 17, 2019 @ 2:55 at 2:55
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      Ari,
      It’s all of the above. You would think Israel as the 800 pound gorilla of the Middle East would not put up with these rocket attacks year after year. But they are so fearful of the world’s condemnation, so they just barely defend themselves. And so the cycle continues and never ends. No normal country would put up with this.

      • Nov 17, 2019 @ 3:57 at 3:57
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        True, but remember that Israel is not a normal country. Its a colonial undertaking which has taken the land from the indigenous population and basically moved them into reservations where they have no rights, while the process starts again. The people to blame are the creators of this project. Sadly because of how it was initiated the Jewish population are now trapped in a vicious cycle of violence. I hope that in time peace will exist and the wrongs will be righted, because this is no way for either side to live.

        • Nov 17, 2019 @ 4:17 at 4:17
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          Nobody cares about what you think.

          • Nov 17, 2019 @ 5:10 at 5:10
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            Thank you for letting me know that you don’t care, though if you really did not care you would not have commented.

        • Nov 17, 2019 @ 23:41 at 23:41
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          @tommy:you are probably the descendant of a colon,the anglo saxons are well known monsters

  • Nov 16, 2019 @ 22:44 at 22:44
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    The War of attrition against the Jewish state is continuing – thanks to the hypocritical coward Bibi.
    May the next missile blow-up your villa (with Sarah in the kitchen,) to give you one, last, chance !
    But you lost big – your Historical role – and will be remembered, as the destroyer of Israel…

  • Nov 16, 2019 @ 23:53 at 23:53
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    Bacon for the Cave dwellers, keep enslaving your women

  • Nov 17, 2019 @ 3:12 at 3:12
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    After all the Arabs and Jews are dead there will be peace in the world.

    • Nov 17, 2019 @ 5:06 at 5:06
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      There will always be conflict untill Mankind evolves and masters the darkness within himself.

      • Nov 17, 2019 @ 12:08 at 12:08
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        “There will always be conflict untill Mankind evolves and masters the darkness within himself.”

        @Tommy,

        That darkness manifests itself in those that support the Iranian regime, Hezbollah, Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

    • Nov 17, 2019 @ 12:03 at 12:03
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      “After all the Arabs and Jews are dead there will be peace in the world.”

      @Tomsk,

      Looking back through the centuries, there was ALWAYS peace between the locals throughout Europe, right?

      • Nov 17, 2019 @ 23:20 at 23:20
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        not since the fck eu’s sent the Hunnic horde against Byzantine has there been peace in ‘Europe’

  • Nov 17, 2019 @ 6:26 at 6:26
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    Israeli citizens should NOT vote for Gantz, for Prime Minister, if he joins with the Arab party, as it will be a disaster for the State of Israel. What kind of a crazy, SHIGAON, thing to do.

  • Nov 17, 2019 @ 6:32 at 6:32
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    I thought that comments containing incitement were NOT allowed here, and yet I see many antisemitic slurs,
    full of hatred, that are posted here. Why are you allowing them? Are you blind?

  • Nov 17, 2019 @ 6:47 at 6:47
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    According to the Oslo accords Gaza falls in area SHT, if I remember well.

  • Nov 17, 2019 @ 21:30 at 21:30
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    To the moon god worshiper who stated Israel stole Arab land.
    Jewish people bought land in what is known as Israel when it was little more than a swamp. In 1948 when Israel was declared a country, after 1900yrs wandering, the Arab world declared war and lost. They did it again in 1968 and even more times since then.
    There was no such thing as an Arab when King David ruled in 960BC.
    Islamic Jihad and Hamas will not make peace until Israel is destroyed per their charter. The same for the party of Su’en and Iran.
    Just so we are clear, the one true god of the Kaaba, where the black rock takes away sin, is the only statue Muhammad did not break apart. Because, his tribe worshiped it as the strongest god of the Kaaba. It is known to history as Su’en. allah akbar. My god is greatest. Greatest of what? Greatest of all other gods at the Kaaba.
    Ask your brothers in Arab lands to take in the so called PA. They are mostly from Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Arabia. Because, the PA will never spend their monies on peace. Only war and murdering Jews.

    • Nov 18, 2019 @ 19:32 at 19:32
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      Your Facts are all Wrong, Full of Lies and Obfuscation. Typical of People who are in Denial.

  • Nov 17, 2019 @ 23:42 at 23:42
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    Rot. Agricultural techniques in Palestine, especially in citrus-culture, were among the most advanced in the world long before the first Psionist settlers.

  • Nov 17, 2019 @ 23:45 at 23:45
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    So, let’s revise our Palestinian ethnic national history, shall we?

Comments are closed.