Sunday, November 18, 2012

On the 5th day of Israel’s Operation Pillar of Defense, the IDF attacks on the Gaza Strip kill 31 Palestinians, including 10 civilians from the same family (al-Dalou), who die in a single air strike on a 3-story home in Jabalya. The Palestinian death toll now stands at 66. The IDF also targets a building used by media workers, injuring 6 Quds TV employees. Israel claims it was a legitimate strike on Hamas communications infrastructure. Some 80 targets are hit by the IDF overnight, with the Israeli military reporting having struck over 1,000 sites across the Gaza Strip since the operation began. Palestinian rocket fire into Israel continues, with 2 rockets wounding 7 Israelis in separate incidents. Israel reports that Palestinians have fired around 900 rockets and mortars into Israel since the beginning of the operation, with 1/3 intercepted by Iron Dome. (REU, AFP, MNA, HA 11/18)

In Cairo, Hamas officials and an Israeli delegation discuss a possible cease-fire through Egyptian mediation, though with no sign of a breakthrough. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority (PA) calls for an emergency Arab League summit to address Israel’s ‘‘aggression.’’ (HA, MNA 11/18)

French FM Laurent Fabius, speaking alongside Israeli FM Avigdor Lieberman at a press conference in Jerusalem, says that his government is talking with Israel, Egypt, and Qatar in effort to deescalate the situation. (HA, MNA 11/18)

In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah in the morning and 1 village nr. Jericho in the afternoon, and in 2 villages nr. Ramallah and 1 village nr. Jericho at night; conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Jenin in the afternoon, and in Hebron, 2 villages nr. Nablus, and al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron at night. (PCHR 11/22)