Today was the fortieth day of Operation Protective Edge.
The harsh realities behind the death of innocents in #Gaza http://t.co/0SxEMCoftx via @smh
— Michael Dickson (@michaeldickson) August 15, 2014
Hamas continues to refuse any offers to extend the current five day ceasefire.
Israeli envoys were due to return to Cairo on Sunday, as was a Palestinian delegation including representatives of Hamas and of U.S.-backed President Mahmoud Abbas, who brought his former Islamist rivals into a unity government in April.
Speaking in Ramallah, the seat of his government in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Abbas promoted Cairo’s mediation. Turkey and Qatar, regional powers sympathetic to Hamas, have also sought to serve as go-betweens – to Israel’s chagrin.
“Our goal is to stop the fighting and to stick to the Egyptian initiative, and no other,” Abbas said in a televised speech.
Despite Abbas’ urging Hamas to accept the ceasefire, the terrorist group refuses.
How can #Israel trust the ppl who allowed violent #antisemitic riots throughout #Europe, to protect her borders!?!? pic.twitter.com/JskjoodVBU
— Nate Cohen (@docnatecohen) August 17, 2014
“Israel must accept the demands of the Palestinian people or face a long war,” Osama Hamdan said in Arabic on his official Facebook page on Saturday, according to an English translation by Reuters.
British "Israel criticism" : "Tesco store trashed by Gaza protesters", shout at staff and customers H/T @CiFWatch http://t.co/2bIlPOjZzT …
— Benjamin Weinthal (@BenWeinthal) August 17, 2014
The IDF released harrowing details of Lt. Eitan’s attempt to rescue Lt. Hadar Goldin after an ambush by Hamas in violation of a ceasefire on August 1.
At around 8:00 AM on Friday August 1, it was announced that Israel and Hamas had reached a temporary ceasefire. Taking advantage of the relative calm of the ceasefire, Lt. Eitan and his fellow soldiers, who had not slept for 24 hours, took turns sleeping while others guarded and inspected houses thought to have been used for terror activity.
During one of those inspections, the soldiers’ commander, Maj. Sarel, noticed that a terrorist was watching from the roof of another house. Accompanied by First Sgt. Lial Gidoni and Lt. Hadar Goldin, he approached the terrorist to assess the danger.
Suddenly, terrorists opened fire at the soldiers and the sound of an explosion resonated throughout the area. There was confusion among other forces in the vicinity who did not understand what was happening. Hamas terrorists had violated the ceasefire. …
“No one really knew what had happened but suddenly someone shouted: ‘Goldin’s gone, Goldin’s disappeared!’ We quickly started counting soldiers and everyone was present except one: Goldin was missing.”
Happened 10 min from my house=> Israeli hurt in Molotov cocktail attack near J-m http://t.co/2agGDHSOBS via @timesofisrael
— Laura Ben-David (@LauraBenDavd) August 17, 2014
[Photo: WochitGeneralNews / YouTube ]