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Roadblocks are opened in southern Israel as five days of fighting between Israel and Palestinian Islamic Jihad ends with an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire.

By JNS

The Israel Defense Forces began to ease restrictions on Gaza Envelope communities on Sunday following an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian Islamic Jihad went into effect on Saturday at 10 p.m.

A small number of rockets were launched at Gaza-area communities in the hours after the ceasefire, with the last Red Alert sirens sounding in Ein HaShlosha and Nirim at 11:11 p.m. One rocket was intercepted and the other landed in an open area, according to the IDF. The Israeli military announced close to midnight that it was striking terrorist targets in Gaza in response to the rockets.

Roadblocks were opened in certain communities near Gaza on Sunday morning at 6 .am., following a situation assessment by the IDF. The remaining restrictions in effect for southern communities were scheduled to be lifted at 12 p.m.

Head of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, Maj. Gen. Ghassan Alian, announced the Erez and Kerem Shalom crossings from Israel to Gaza would be reopened on Sunday, and Israeli media reported that the maritime space around Gaza was also expected to reopen.

“Operation Shield and Arrow” saw five days of fighting between Israel and PIJ terrorists, who launched more than 1,250 rockets at the Jewish state, with the Israeli military killing six PIJ leaders and destroying terrorist infrastructure in nearly 400 targeted strikes across the Strip.

As of Saturday evening, the IDF reported 373 rocket interceptions by Israel’s aerial defense array, along with 221 PIJ rockets that failed to cross the border and came down inside Gaza. The Israeli military on Thursday accused PIJ of killing four Gaza civilians with failed rocket launches.

According to Israel’s Magen David Adom, two people were killed by rocket fire in Israel—an 80-year-old woman in Rehovot whose apartment building took a direct hit, and a 35-year-old male resident of Gaza who was struck in Shokada in the Sdot Negev Regional Council. A total of 30 other people were wounded, including another Gaza resident, who remains in serious condition. A total of 45 people were treated for anxiety by MDA medical personnel.

According to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights the death toll in Gaza stood at 33, including 15 civilians, while 147 were wounded.

“National Security Council Director Tzachi Hanegbi, on instruction from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, thanked Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and expressed the appreciation of the State of Israel for Egypt’s intensive efforts to secure a ceasefire,” the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.

“The NSC director made it clear that Israel’s acceptance of the Egyptian initiative means that ‘quiet will be met with quiet’, and that if Israel is attacked or threatened, it will continue to do everything that it needs to in order to defend itself,” the statement continued.

The United States government also thanked Egypt for its role in brokering the ceasefire, and expressed appreciation to Qatar.

“The United States welcomes tonight’s announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Gaza-based militants brokered by the Egyptian Government after nearly five days of fighting,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.

“U.S. officials worked closely with regional partners to achieve this resolution to the hostilities to prevent further loss of life and restore calm for both Israelis and Palestinians. We are grateful for the critical diplomatic efforts of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and senior Egyptian officials, as well as Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar.”

The U.S. State Department also commended Egypt and Qatar for their roles in fostering the ceasefire. State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said that Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on Saturday to thank him “for Qatar’s partnership and important efforts to de-escalate violence throughout the recent hostilities.”

Miller reaffirmed Washington’s “ironclad commitment to Israel’s security, as reflected in our ongoing support for Iron Dome and other Israeli missile defense systems. We will remain engaged with our partners to promote calm in the weeks and months ahead.”

The post Fragile Gaza truce holds as Israel starts to ease restrictions appeared first on World Israel News.

New ‘Blue Whale’ drone submarine uses radar and electro-optical systems to detect sea and coastal targets.

The post WATCH: Israel reveals unmanned spy submarine appeared first on World Israel News.

A remarkable story of bravery and courage has emerged from the small town of Alpena in Michigan, where a 14-year-old boy is being celebrated as a hero for allegedly using his slingshot to protect his 8-year-old sister from being abducted from their backyard.

On Wednesday, the young girl was reportedly searching for mushrooms in her backyard when a 17-year-old suspect suddenly appeared from the woods, covered her mouth, and grabbed her around the waist in an attempt to pull her away.

The girl’s brother, who was inside their home at the time, quickly noticed the commotion and sprung into action. He grabbed his slingshot and shot something at the suspect’s head, which caused him to loosen his grip on the girl and allow her to escape. The boy then shot another projectile at the suspect which hit him in the chest, and the suspect immediately fled.

The suspect was later located and identified at a nearby gas station. Michigan State Police released a description of the suspect which helped to identify him as the alleged kidnapper. The suspect, who was not named, was arraigned in the 88th District Court on Thursday and charged as an adult with attempted kidnapping/child enticement, attempted assault to do great bodily harm less than murder, and assault and battery.

The suspect was taken to the juvenile section of the Alpena County Jail and is being held on a $150,000 cash bond.

Lt. John Grimshaw of the Alpena Post commended the 14-year-old boy for his heroic actions and stated that he had likely saved his sister’s life. Grimshaw also offered advice to anyone in an abduction situation, encouraging them to do everything they can to fight off the attacker and scream as loud as they can.

The suspect’s next court date is scheduled for May 17.

The U.S. secretary of state spoke with the Qatari prime minister, and deputy secretary of state spoke with Israeli minister for strategic affairs, Foggy Bottom announced.

By JNS

Washington welcomed the Egypt-brokered ceasefire announcement “between Israel and Gaza-based militants,” Karine Jean-Pierre, White House press secretary, announced on May 13.

“We are grateful for the critical diplomatic efforts of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and senior Egyptian officials, as well as Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar,” she stated.

Matthew Miller, State Department spokesman, also welcomed the ceasefire in a statement, although he referred to “hostilities in Israel and Gaza,” rather than violence between Israel and militants in Gaza.

“We express our condolences to the families of civilians who were killed and those who were injured in the violence,” Miller stated. He too commended “Egypt’s crucial role” and “Qatar’s robust efforts.”

Earlier in the day, Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatari prime minister and minister of foreign affairs, per a State Department readout.

Another State Department readout noted that Wendy Sherman, deputy secretary of state, spoke on May 12 with Ron Dermer, Israeli minister for strategic affairs, to “reiterate the United States’ enduring commitment to Israel’s security and to convey her condolences for the Israeli citizen killed in yesterday’s rocket attacks.”

Sherman also “strongly condemned the indiscriminate launch of rockets into Israel from Gaza-based terrorist groups, which endangers the welfare of both Israelis and Palestinians,” per the readout.

Washington “reaffirms our ironclad commitment to Israel’s security,” Miller added in the May 13 statement. “We will remain engaged with our partners to promote calm in the weeks and months ahead. We also will continue our efforts to improve quality of life for Palestinians and we urge the swift delivery of fuel and other critical supplies into Gaza.”

“The United States believes that Israelis and Palestinians both deserve to live safely and securely and to enjoy equal measures of freedom, prosperity and democracy,” he stated.

The post White House welcomes ceasefire between Israel and Islamic Jihad appeared first on World Israel News.

Sirens sounded in the cities of Holon, Rishon Lezion as well as the communities in the Gaza envelope.

By World Israel News Staff

One hour after Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist group reached a ceasefire deal on Saturday night, the Gaza-based terror group launched a volley of rockets over the border.

Sirens sounded in the cities of Holon, Rishon Lezion as well as the Sderot and Nir Am, in the Gaza envelope, at 11pm, one hour after the Egyptian-brokered truce was set to have taken effect.

IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi said earlier in the day: “The Islamic Jihad terrorist organization’s continued fire enables us to continue to make further achievements. We are prepared to continue the targeted strikes and striking in a precise and increasing manner, as we have done over the last few days.”

National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi praised the Egyptians for their “vigorous efforts” in negotiating a cessation to the fighting but warned: “Quiet will be answered with quiet, and if Israel is attacked or threatened, it will continue to do whatever it must in order to defend itself.”

According to Israeli media, Israel rejected a PIJ demand to halt targeted killings and to hand over the body of its senior operative, Khader Adnan, who died in prison last week after an 87-day hunger strike.

His death triggered a barrage of more than 100 rockets into Israel in under 24 hours.

Two people died from rocket fire in the ensuing five-day conflict.

One was an Israeli from Rehovot and the other was Palestinian from Gaza who had a work permit to be in Israel.

PIJ launched more than 1,250 rockets at Israel, to which the IDF responded by striking some 400 terror assets in Gaza in a campaign dubbed Operation Arrow and Shield.

The post True to form, Islamic Jihad launches rockets after ceasefire takes effect appeared first on World Israel News.

An extremely rare seal turned up to rest on a beach in central Israel over the weekend.

According to Israeli media reports, the Mediterranean Monk Seal was pregnant. However, officials from the Nature and Park Authority told World Israel News that there was no evidence of that and it was possible that she was just a large mammal. They added that they had not inspected the seal, and were guarding her from onlookers until she was ready to return to sea.

It was the first time a seal had come on the shore in Israel in recorded history, the authority said.

The post WATCH: Rare seal makes history by napping on Israeli beach appeared first on World Israel News.

Eliane Karp, who was first lady of Peru from 2001 to 2006, has outstanding warrant for her arrest in an embezzlement case.

By World Israel News Staff

Eliane Karp Toledo, Peru’s former Jewish First Lady, has avoided an extradition request and fled to Israel from the U.S., prompting outrage in her home country.

Peruvian Prime Minister Alberto Otárola told reporters in Lima: “The United States Department of Justice has informed the Peruvian embassy in the U.S. that Mrs. Eliane Karp has taken a flight to Israel using her Israeli passport.”

“Our Foreign Ministry will diligently monitor this case and ensure that Eliane Karp fulfills her obligation to appear before the Peruvian judiciary, which has accused her of committing the crime of money laundering,” he said.

Peru does not have an extradition treaty with Israel.

Karp, who was first lady of Peru from 2001 to 2006, has outstanding warrant for her arrest in an embezzlement case involving the purchase of high-value real estate in the name of her mother, Eva Fernerburg, a Holocaust survivor. Authorities believe the money used to buy the assets came from bribes.

In April, Toledo was extradited from the United States to Lima, where he is now in prison for accepting tens of millions of dollars in bribes in return for work contracts, including from Brazil’s Odebrecht construction company, which was approved to construct the second and third stretches of the Interoceanic Highway.

In 2017, Israel denied entry to Toledo.

The post Former First Lady of Peru flees to Israel appeared first on World Israel News.

Biden “bears responsibility for the deterioration of the situation because of its silence over Israeli crimes and failure to stop them.”

By World Israel News Staff

The Palestinian Authority on Saturday said the Biden administration “bears responsibility” for the tensions in Judea and Samaria and the Gaza Strip, slamming Washington’s inaction in fighting Israeli “aggression.”

PA President Mahmoud Abbas’ spokespersona, Nabil Abu Rudaineh, commented on the latest round of fighting between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza, saying that the American administration “also bears responsibility for the deterioration of the situation because of its silence over Israeli crimes and failure to stop them.”

Another senior PA official told the Jerusalem Post that President Joe Biden had “not fulfilled most of the promises he made to the Palestinians before and after the US presidential election,” apparently referencing Biden’s promise to reopen the U.S. consulate — shuttered by the Trump administration — in eastern Jerusalem.

“Now that he has announced his decision to seek reelection, we don’t expect him to do anything to help the Palestinians or put pressure on Israel,” he said.

Another Palestinian official was cited as saying: “We hear nice statements from the Biden administration, but they have proved that they are not much different than previous American administrations that were biased in favor of Israel.”

Abbas and other senior Palestinian officials in Ramallah have come under fire for not publicly commenting on the fighting between Israel and Gaza to date.

The post Palestinians blame Biden admin for Gaza confrontation appeared first on World Israel News.

A concert by American boy band, the Backstreet Boys, scheduled to take place on Saturday night in Rishon LeZion, was also cancelled.

By World Israel News Staff

The weekly protests against the government’s planned judicial reforms, which have taken place for 18 consecutive Saturdays, were cancelled over security concerns due to the ongoing flare-up with Gaza.

“In recent days, we have been in close contact with the Israel Police and the security forces, with the consideration being maintaining the safety of the demonstrators. Out of responsibility for the safety of our people, we have decided to postpone the demonstration for a week,” protest organizers said on Friday.

“We continue to have our finger on the pulse, and if we see that the government is promoting changes related to the coup d’état, we will take to the streets of Israel with all our might. The Israeli government must not mistake our intentions – we are watching over democracy and will make sure that Israel remains democratic,” they added.

A concert by American boy band, the Backstreet Boys, scheduled to take place on Saturday night in Rishon LeZion, was also cancelled.

Concert-goers were annoyed that another concert by Israeli rocker Aviv Gefen, attended by 40,000 people, went ahead in Yarkon Park in Tel Aviv on Thursday.

Instructions displayed on screens in the park prior to the start of the concert advised the audience, “Dear audience, if an alert is received during the show, you must sit on the ground for 10 minutes. It is important to stay in your seats to avoid injury.”

During the concert, Geffen dedicated a song to the residents of southern Israel, saying: “There are some who are at home, or watching over their brothers, or with their parents, so first of all I will do a concert just for you friends in the south.”

“And I’m here today together with you, holding the concert because it sends a very important message, more than any song, that we’ve chosen life. No one will silence Israel, ever.”

Before the show, Geffen posted on his Instagram account, “To all the beloved residents of the Gaza envelope, I embrace and love you. It is important for me to let all ticket buyers who are unable to attend tonight’s show know that they can call the Tel Aviv box office on Sunday for a refund.”

The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit stated, “[The concert] was discussed during the assessment of the situation. We considered it and ultimately decided to proceed with the event, adhering to guidelines, so as not to disrupt daily life.”

The post Weekly protests against judicial reform cancelled amid Gaza rocket threat appeared first on World Israel News.

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