The Israeli military said Friday it had begun airstrikes in the Gaza Strip in response to a rocket attack on Tel Aviv, which was the first time the city was targeted by rocket fire since a 2014 war against Gaza militants. In a statement early Friday, the army said it was targeting "terror sites." It provided no further details. The attacks were taking place in the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis, about 15 miles south of Gaza City. The warplanes could be heard flying overhead in Gaza City, where smoke from the explosions could be seen in the distance.Palestinian media said a Hamas naval base had been targeted.There were no immediate reports of injuries.Earlier, in Tel Aviv, air raid sirens were heard wailing. "No interceptions were made by aerial defense systems. No damage or injuries were reported," the officials said.CBS News has confirmed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is also Israel's defense minister, is holding an urgent security meeting with his military … [Read more...] about Israel begins airstrikes in response to rocket attack out of the Gaza Strip
Gaza strip
Opioid Crisis Engulfs Blockaded Gaza Strip
An opioid crisis has quietly spread in the Gaza Strip, trapping thousands in the hell of addiction and adding another layer of misery to the blockaded and impoverished coastal territory. The scourge can be traced to the mass import of cheap opioid-based Tramadol pain pills through smuggling tunnels under Gaza's border more than a decade ago. A more addictive black-market form of the drug called Tramal has since taken hold. "I have seen the top elites taking it — university students, girls and respectful people," said Dr. Fadel Ashour, who treats addicts in his dimly lit clinic. There are no reliable estimates for the number of addicts in Gaza, a conservative society of 2 million where it is considered shameful to admit to such a problem. A 2017 study by the World Health Organization estimated that 10,047 males over the age of 15 were "high-risk drug users." Top News Photos: R. Kelly Leaves Jail After Paying Bond Getty Images Ashour, a psychiatrist, neurologist and … [Read more...] about Opioid Crisis Engulfs Blockaded Gaza Strip
Italians leave Gaza Strip after standoff with Hamas
The Italian officers were in Gaza to prepare for an upcoming visit by the Italian consul general based in Jerusalem, and were reportedly stuck in the UN building for around a day after the incident, according a diplomatic source. They were allowed to leave after their identities were confirmed and it was determined they were not involved in any wrongdoing, a Gazan security source said. Hamas has been on high alert for infiltrations following a botched Israeli special forces operation inside Gaza in November. The unusual incident happened on Monday night, when the three officers were in a car in central Gaza as gunfire rang out, said Gaza interior ministry spokesman Iyad al-Bozum. "The car then headed to a United Nations headquarters in Gaza City," he said in a statement, adding that there were suspicions about their identities. Hamas security forces pursued them and surrounded the building, leading to a standoff. Hamas-affiliated … [Read more...] about Italians leave Gaza Strip after standoff with Hamas
Gaza Strip Terror Rocket Fired into Israel
Ynetnews reports: IDF spokesman said Saturday that Hamas forces in the Gaza Strip have launched a rocket at Israel overnight, none were hurt and no damages were reported. In response, the IDF attacked a Hamas post in the strip using an IAF helicopter. This is the first rocket to be launched from the Gaza Strip since the November fighting round, in which hundreds of rockets were launched at Israel from the strip, causing damages to property and killing one. These attacks follow the latest weekly riots along the Gaza border Friday, in which one Palestinian man was shot dead.Read more here. … [Read more...] about Gaza Strip Terror Rocket Fired into Israel
EU, UN urge end of tensions around Gaza strip
By Serife Cetin and Omer Aydin Brussels, Nov. 13 (Antara/Anadolu-OANA) - The European Union and the United Nations on Monday urged the immediate end of rising tensions surrounding the Gaza Strip. In a written statement, Maja Kocijancic -- spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini -- said that "the escalation of violence in and around Gaza during the last hours is very alarming". Calling the firing of indiscriminate rockets and other actions such as targeting civilians "unacceptable", Kocijancic urged the immediate stop of all violent actions. "The EU urges both parties to step back from the brink and avoid any further actions that would contribute to the escalation, put civilians` lives at risk, and jeopardise recent efforts towards reducing tensions," she said. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also spoke about Gaza in an interview with France24 in Paris. Guterres called it "an extremely worrying situation," stating that "the suffering of the people of Gaza … [Read more...] about EU, UN urge end of tensions around Gaza strip