Israel launched a series of airstrikes on Gaza militants early on Tuesday, dubbing the offensive 'Operation Protective Edge.' More than 50 targets were hit in the offensive.
Meanwhile, rocket fire on Israel's south continued. According to the IDF, eight projectiles were launched between 2 and 6 A.M.
Militants in Gaza fired more than 85 rockets toward Israel on Monday evening, with Hamas openly claiming responsibility for some of the launches for the first time since the current round of fighting began. The rockets hit several major cities in the south and, also for the first time in the current fighting, caused alarms to go off in central Israel and Jerusalem. The barrages lightly wounded two Israelis and caused property damage.
The Israel Defense Forces called up 1,500 infantry and Border Police reservists in preparation for further escalation, after the security cabinet decided on Monday afternoon to intensify attacks against Hamas and other terrorist groups in the Gaza Strip. A senior official said the ministers want to refrain from a large-scale military operation for now, but they instructed the army to prepare for significant expansion of its current operations.
Palestinian officials said Gaza was bracing for further Israeli attacks. They said Hamas had evacuated likely targets and its leaders had gone underground lest Israel attempt to assassinate them. Hamas also issued a statement on Monday night demanding that the Palestinian Authority take action against Israel, saying 'national unity sometimes requires paying a price.'
Click here for Monday's live blog.
6:00 A.M. Israel's air force strikes 50 targets in Gaza as part of Operation Protective Edge. According to the military, more than eight rockets were fired toward Israel over the past four hours. (Gili Cohen)
4:15 A.M. A rocket fired from Gaza explodes near Kiryat Malachi. (Haaretz)
2:40 A.M. The IDF dubs the aerial offensive on Gaza 'Operation Protective Edge.' The airstrikes are targeting sites in the center of the Strip. (Haaretz)
1:24 A.M. The IAF strikes Gaza targets in retaliation for the rocket fire. (Gili Cohen)
12:32 A.M. Rocket alarm sounds in the Hof Ashkelon Regional Council. (Shirley Seidler)
12:08 A.M. Due to the rocket fire from Gaza, Home Front Command instructs towns within 40 kilometers of the Gaza Strip to cancel school and summer camp activity. (Haaretz)
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