Live Updates: Israel Denies Gaza Cease-fire Reached With Hamas, Islamic Jihad

May

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CLICK HERE FOR UPDATES: Haaretz’s Gaza flare-up live blog for the second day of violence

The Israeli air force struck targets in Gaza in response to rocket barrages fired toward southern Israeli communities Tuesday, also bombing a tunnel which led from Gaza into Egypt and then into Israeli territory.

The first barrage consisted of 28 mortars, with one shell falling in the yard of a kindergarten in an Israeli community close to the border with Gaza. The attacks continued throughout the day triggering dozens of rocket sirens in southern Israel and wounding five Israelis, one of them suffering moderate injuries. Earlier on Sunday and Monday, the Israeli army had killed four militants with strikes on the strip.

Hamas and Islamic Jihad have claimed Tuesday’s attacks, while the international community has called on the groups to cease firing projectiles immediately.

Live updates:

8:22 A.M.: Senior Hamas official says Gaza ceasefire reached to end violence, AFP reports

7:22 A.M.: Solider hit by shrapnel in moderate condition (Haaretz)

House hit by rockets in the Eshkol region, May 30, 2018 Eliyahu Hershkovitz

7:09 A.M.: Eshkol regional council: Direct hit on home in the Eshkol region, no casualties

At least two rockets fired from Gaza exploded in the Eshkol region overnight, the regional council spokesperson said. One hit a house in the area directly. There were no casualties. (Almog Ben Zikri)

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– The Israeli strike on the tunnel which reached 900 meters into Israeli territory from Gaza

Israeli defense system shoots down Gaza mortar fire
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Israeli defense system shoots down Gaza mortar fire

11:18 P.M. Reports: Israel, Hamas and Islamic Jihad have reached cease-fire in Gaza; Israeli official denies

Reports in Arab media say Israel, Hamas and the Islamic Jihad have reached understandings to restore the ceasefire in Gaza that was reached in 2014. The reports are quoting a Hamas spokesman as saying that he group will be abide by the deal if Israel does.

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Reprehensible – mortars fired from Gaza at a kindergarten and community in Israel! Hamas has failed – all it can offer is terror. Palestinians in Gaza need real leaders to work on Gaza’s real problems with its water, its economy and so much more.

— Jason D. Greenblatt (@jdgreenblatt45) May 29, 2018

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The deal was reportedly reached by Egyptian mediation.

An Israeli official denied the reports. (Jack Khoury)

10:27 P.M. Sirens go off in Israeli communities near Gaza border

10:26 P.M. U.S. calls for emergency Security Council session over Gaza rockets

The United States has called for an emergency session of the UN Security Council over the firing of rockets at Israel from the Gaza Strip. A statement released by the U.S. mission to the UN said it wishes to "discuss the latest attacks on Israel out of the Gaza Strip by Hamas and other militants."

"The Security Council should be outraged and respond to this latest bout of violence directed at innocent Israeli civilians, and the Palestinian leadership needs to be held accountable for what they’re allowing to happen in Gaza," it said.

The statement said the U.S. expects the session to take place on Wednesday afternoon. (Haaretz) Read full story

A picture taken from Gaza City on May 29, 2018, shows a smoke billowing in the background following an Israeli air strike on the Palestinian enclave.THOMAS COEX/AFP

9:35 P.M. Analysis: Israel-Gaza flare-up worst since 2014 – but war could still be avoided

"Things could still get totally out of control and degenerate into an unwanted and unplanned war, just as in the summer of 2014. But there still appear to be ways out the parties can take to avoid a collision course." (Amos Harel) Read full story

9:33 P.M. U.S. National Security Council ‘closely monitoring’ situation

The U.S. National Security Council’s spokesperson called on those launching the projectiles to cease their attacks. "We are aware of numerous mortar attacks on Israel today and are closely monitoring the situation," read a statement. |"We call on those launching the attacks to cease this destructive violence. We fully support Israel’s right to self-defense and to take action to prevent such provocations." (Noa Landau)

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– The two kilometers long tunnel extending into Egyptian territory