Thread by @michaelh992

Summary of last night in #Gaza & #Israel:
- 190 rockets fired towards #Israel from 19:00 to 07:00 this morning
- #Israel launched major air and ground strike using 180 planes plus 7th Armored brigade. Strikes focused on northern #Gaza, including tunnels network.
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- Hamas-run Health Ministry reported 119 dead, including 31 children, 830 wounded. #Israeli claims would suggest most of the dead are fighters, which might have been true before, but also true that recent artillery strikes seem to have caused far more civilian casualties.

- Rocket barrages against #Israel focused on southern #Israel. No barrage against central region.
- Does this mean #Hamas and PIJ arsenal has been seriously hit (as IDF claims) or that they are now pacing themselves understanding conflict will be more protracted than expected?>

Reality is likely to be in between. Hamas initial and unprecedented barrages, Haniyeh's "victory" statement and Abu Marzuk call for a ceasefire all point to the fact that Hamas wanted a quick "win".

#Israel is refusing it to them so far, pacing for longer conflict.

- Ground and air barrage yesterday was meant to target tunnel networks under #Gaza. This could point to upcoming ground invasion, but not necessarily.
- Remember in 2014, IDF called up 70,000 troops. Nowadays only 9000 called. >>

>> Plus threat of attack tunnels was what pushed the IDF to a ground op in 2014, when regular infiltrations were reported.

This threat is not as high as then, with the only infiltration attempt being thwarted early in the conflict (IDF claimed 15 Qassam elite members killed)

Negotiations?

Nothing new on that front. Unlikely to be any change before the end of Shabbat tomorrow. Egyptian delegation was supposed to visit both Tel Aviv and Gaza, did not arrive (not a good sign). #Israel continues to send clear signals it does not want a ceasefire.

Sectarian violence continues:
- Israeli soldier beaten in #Gaza
- Two civilians shot in Lod by Arab assailants. Policeman also shot in Ramle
- Arab rioters torched synagogue in Lod
- Israeli reporter attacked in the street of Tel Aviv by far-right Israeli. >>

- Jewish family attacked in Umm al-Fahm
- Rock-thrown at car near Be'er Sheva wounded 8 year old Jewish girl
- Arab, Jewish protests continue, with mobs roaming the streets in multiple areas.
- Police more present than before, but will need to do more to break cycle of violence

CORRECTION: Russian agency TASS claimed Egyptian delegation did come to Tel Aviv, and is now back to Cairo. Israel refused ceasefire (conflicting reports on whether it came to Israel at all but the result is the same).

In all of this madness there also have been protests/rallies calling for an end to violence

https://twitter.com/rc_schneider/status/1393071018080673792