BICOM

Latest update on Gaza escalation: 90 rockets were fired overnight from Gaza towards southern Israel. A rocket hit an empty house in a community in the Shaar Hanegev Regional Council.  

Last night six rockets were fired from Lebanon at Israel – most fell short of the border territory. The IDF said Palestinian factions are likely behind the attack. This is the 2^nd time rockets have been fired from Lebanon in 8 days.

The IDF conducted its fourth round of strikes against the Hamas’ ‘Metro’ tunnel system last night. 65 terror targets were struck by 62 fighter jets using 110 guided armaments. Five Hamas commanders’ residences were also hit.

Since the start of the escalation, 3,440 rockets have been fired toward Israel – 500 landed in the Gaza Strip. The Iron Dome has an intercept rate of approximately 90%.

According to MDA: 8 Israelis were killed by rockets & 2 died falling while running to shelter; 106 wounded from rocket impacts, 6 seriously; 195 wounded from falling while running to shelter, 1 seriously.

Yesterday, 56-year-old Yigal Yehoshua from Lod, who was struck in the head with a brick thrown by Arab rioters in last week’s rioting, died from his injuries. He is the first Jewish victim in the ongoing nationwide civil unrest.

Gaza’s health ministry, run by Hamas, says 197 Gazans have died, including 58 children and 34 women, & 1,235 have been injured. Israeli military officials disputed the casualty count coming out of Gaza, stating conservatively that 130 enemy combatants had so far been killed. 

Over the Shavuot festival, Hamas attempted a rocket attack on Israel’s offshore gas platform Tamar. Besides economic damage, this would have resulted in a massive ecological disaster and starve Gazans due to fishing impact if it was hit.

Attacks continue in the West Bank and Jerusalem: Last Friday 7 Police were injured in a car ramming attack in Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood and yesterday an assailant tried to ram his vehicle into troops at Hawara in northern WB. 

There were also breaches on the Israeli-Jordanian border fence. Three suspects were observed on Monday in the Beit Yosef area near Beit She’an. Locals were told to stay inside until the area was cleared.  

In response, the IDF has continued its operation in Gaza. Targets included: Hamas intelligence buildings, rocket launch sites, internal security HQ in Rimal, tunnel entrances, and the PIJ’s northern commander was killed in airstrike.

Today Israel may open the Kerem Shalom crossing for a few hours to let in fuel, medicine and food into Gaza. 20,000 Palestinians workers, as well as exceptional humanitarian cases, will be allowed to enter Israel too. 

Today, Fatah and Hamas have declared a “day of rage,” which could lead to increase violence in Jerusalem and the West Bank, particularly with Hamas urging Palestinians to carry out terrorist attacks against Israeli forces in the West Bank.

US President Biden spoke by phone with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the third time in the last few days and expressed his support for a cease-fire. Biden also reconfirmed that Israel has the right to defend itself against rocket fire. Netanyahu said Israel will take whatever action necessary to restore calm and security