Sunday morning, Hamas officials pleaded with Israel for a two-hour “humanitarian” ceasefire. Israel agreed, and announced a lull in hostilities from 1:30 – 3:30 pm. Shortly before the end of the “ceasefire,” Red Cross officials asked Israel to extend the quiet period for an additional hour. Israel agreed.

During the rest period, the following rocket attacks at Israeli civilians were been recorded:

1:40 Shaar Hanegev

1:14 Eshkol Region

1:13 Shaar Hanegev

1:12 – Ashkelon

2:20 Eshkol Region, Ashkelon

2:20 – Eshkol Regional Council

3:14 – Eshkol Regional Council

Israel has agreed to a Hamas request for a two-hour humanitarian ceasefire in the Shejaiya “refugee camp” near Gaza City, where Hamas claims dozens of civilians were killed. The temporary truce does not apply to other areas, and the war is continuing in high gear on both sides.

The ceasefire began at 1:30 p.m. Israeli time and will allow medics to treat the wounded and remove the dead. In addition, the IDF has announced it will open a field hospital at the Erez Crossing on the northern border of Gaza for the benefit of Gaza civilians.

“The request was addressed by the international committee of the Red Cross through the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories,” The IDF stated.

“During this time the Palestinian population has been called to evacuate the area, move west and cross the Salah ad-Din road to Gaza City,” it added in a statement. “Any attempt to violate this window will not be tolerated.”

Hamas and the IDF were engaged in fierce clashes in Shejaiya Saturday night and Sunday, and Hamas has claimed it inflicted casualties on Israeli soldiers.

It has orchestrated lies and half-truths to lead foreign media into the trap of believing that Israel is carrying out a massacre, while Israel’s hands are tied because of information that cannot be revealed due to military censorship.

In the meantime, it has gained a major advantage in its propaganda campaign.

Hamas managed to honor the United Nations-sponsored five-hour “humanitarian ceasefire” for a grand total of two hours before attacking Israel with mortar shells. It waited until less than a minute after the end of the ceasefire to stage a massive attack on Israel with more than 50 rockets and missiles from the south to north of Tel Aviv Thursday afternoon.

No serious injuries have been reported, but at least one home in Ashkelon sustained damage. The Iron Dome intercepted several missiles fired at Tel Aviv and surrounding cities, including Kfar Saba to the north.

At noon, two hours after the brief ceasefire was upheld by Israel and Hamas, the terrorist regime hit the Eshkol region in the Western Negev with three mortar shells

Hamas also Hamas executed four civilians for collaborating with Israel during the Protect Edge counter-terrorist campaign that began last week. More than a dozen of others have been arrested and face the same fate.

Foreign leaders have not commented on the executions or commented if they represented a “disproportionate response.”

Hamas followed up the mortar shelling with rocket attacks seconds after the official end of the ceasefire, shooting at Ashkelon, Gaza Belt communities and Be’er Sheva within an hour.

By 6 p.m., the Iron Dome system already was in action over the skies of Tel Aviv.

After the initial attacks, the IDF swiftly responded, bombing terror targets in northern and central Gaza.

Israel has suffered a bad name following the bombing of Gaza beach on Wednesday that had been used by terrorists but where children also were playing until the Air Force combed the area killing at least four minors.

Hamas also suffered PR damage when it was exposed again for using civilian areas for terror. UNRWA discovered weapons in one of its school, as reported here.

Foreign leaders or would-be leaders, ranging from former U.S. President Bill Clinton to Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, castigated Israel, Erdogan told a meeting of Islamic scholars in in Turkey, “Since 1948, we have been witnessing this attempt at systematic genocide every day and every month. But above all we are witnessing this attempt at systematic genocide every Ramadan.”

Clinton, whose Oslo Accords unwittingly created “new Middle East” exactly opposite of what he intended, still is on the soap box preaching that Israel is the reason Hamas attacks.

“I believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu could and should make a comprehensive peace agreement with the Palestinians,” he told an Indian news channel Wednesday.

“Over the long run it is not good for Israel to keep isolating itself from world opinion because of the absence of a viable peace process,” he added. “In the short to medium term, Hamas can inflict terrible public relations damage on Israel by forcing it to kill Palestinian civilians to counter Hamas.”

Did he really say “civilians”? Did he really say Israel might suffer, oy veh, “public relations damage.”

Now we have another reason why the U.S. Constitution prevents a president from running for a third term.

There also are other reasons, such as Barack Obama.

1:52am Sirens Beit Shemesh. …Ashdod….Kiryat Gat Lachish ……

1:51am Beit Shemesh, Mateh Yehuda

1:37am (Thursday) Eshkol

1:23am (Thursday) Sirens Hof Ashkelon (what humanitarian cease fire?)

10:28pm Otef Aza, Ashkelon

9:59pm Kissufim, Otef Aza, Eshkol

9:36pm Ashdod, Gan Yavne, Be’er Tuvia, Hof Ashkelon…

9:15pm Kiryat Malachi, Gan Yavne, Beer Tuvia, Lachish, Shafir…

9:00pm Sdot Negev, Shaar Negev

8:16pm Ashdod, Ashkelon…

6:37pm Eshkol

6:32 Eshkol region Alerts, Ashkelon South.

6:22pm Eshkol Region Alerts.

6:09pm Rockets fired at Eshkol region x2.

5:21pm Sirens in Netivot and Sedot Negev Region.

5:14pm Sedot Negev and Shaar HaNegev region — rocket alerts

4:16pm SIRENS in Lehavim, Meitar, Rahat, Bnei Shimon, Har Hevron, Negev, Dimona…

3:59 Eshkol

3:55pm Eshkol

3:40pm Eshkol

3:30pm Kerem Shalom

3:29pm Nirim, Ein Hashlosha

3:26pm Yad Mordechai, Netiv Ha’Asara

3:20pm Missile explosions in Ashkelon

3:19pm Yad Mordechai, Netiv Ha’Asara, Ashkelon, Be’er Ganim, Zikkim, Karmiya

2:48pm Gaza Belt communities – Sha’ar HaNegev and Sdot Negev Regional Council districts; Nahal Oz, Kibbutz Sa’ad, Kfar Aza, Kfar Maimon

2:38pm Kissufim, Nirim, Ein Hashlosha

2:03pm Ashkelon Coastal Region

2:01pm Ashkelon, Yad Morchechai, Netiv Ha’Asara, Zikkim

1:41pm Four missiles explode in open areas near Dimona

1:38pm Dimona, Yerucha, Arad, Ara’a

1:27pm Kiryat Gat, Lachish, Achuzam

1:04pm Netiv Ha’Asara, Yad Mordechai

12:50pm Two rockets explode in Sdot Negev, open areas

12:42pm Sdot Negev

12:16pm Be’er Sheva, Ofakim x2, Bnei Shimon Regional Council district

12:15pm Rocket Alerts Ashdod, Sha’ar Hanegev, Sdot Negev Regional Council districts

11:56am Rocket Alert Eshkol Region

10:51am Ashkelon Coastal Region

10:44am Sha’ar HaNegev Regional Council district

10:30am Israel firing into Gaza City with artillery.

10:15am Color Red alert: Gaza Belt communities x2

9:32am Iron Dome system intercepted four missiles over Israel’s central region, including central over Gush Dan. Israelis warned not to touch fallen shrapnel.

Shrapnel fell in a school’s playground. No one injured. (Sorry, can’t say location)

9:23am Color Red alert: Entire coastline from Ashdod to the north, metro Tel Aviv-Yafo, Bnei Brak, Petach Tikvah past Rishon Lezion, Herzliya, including Gush Dan region, Kiryat Gat to the east

8:25am Iron Dome intercepts rocket over Kiryat Malachi

8:04am Four rockets explode in Eshkol Regional Council district, one ignites a fire in open area

8:03am Iron Dome intercepts six missiles over Ashkelon

8:02am One woman sustains leg wound in Be’er Tuvia following rocket attack

8:01am Sirens: Kiryat Malachi, Be’er Tuvia, Yoav, Shafir

7:57am Sirens: Shafir

7:43am Color Red alert Ashkelon, Ashkelon Coastal Region

7:41am Sirens: Eshkol Regional Council district

Good morning.

Relatively quiet night. Only 7 rockets fell.

7:25am Color Red alert Eshkol Regional Council district

4:41am Color Red alert Eshkol Regional Council district

12:09am (Wednesday) Ashkelon, Ashkelon Coastal Region

12:09am (Wednesday) Ashkelon, Hof Ashkelon

——

10:56pm Otef Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon…

10:28pm Rocket Alert Eshkol Region

9:52pm Two rockets fired from Gaza hit the Hebron area.

9:45pm 4x Iron Dome interceptions near Beit Shemesh

9:20pm Sirens: Adam, Kfar Adumi, Kochav haShachar, Jericho(!), Jordan Valley, Beit Shemesh, Mate Yehuda

9:09pm Cleared for publication – Channel 2 TV reports that shrapnel from a rocket strike tonight hit a school in Rishon L’Zion causing serious damage. No injuries.

8:58pm Barrage: Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gan Yavneh, Yad Mordechai

7:51pm Rockets in Eshkol region.

7:30pm Rockets in Sederot and Merchavim area.

Earlier at least 3 rockets shot down over Tel Aviv.

There were also sirens before also in Modiin and Dimona….

Hamas hit yet another power line into Gaza… (Good).

7:26pm South Ashkelon Region – rockets…

7:12pm Ashkelon and South Ashkelon region.

Man critically injured at Erez junction from Mortar.

7:04pm Beer Tuvia area….Negev Region….Ashdod… The SOUTH

8:58pm Ashdod

7:00pm Beer Sheva

6:58pm Rockets towards Ashkelon region….twice in a row.

6:52pm Southern Ashkelon region…Beer Tuvia Region….Kiryat Gat….big volley of rockets.

6:55pm Major rocket attack on its way to Greater Tel Aviv….Tel Aviv, Yaffo, Yahud, Shoham, Rishon and about 15 other places.

6:41pm Ashkelon region

6:34pm Ashkelon region – rocket alerts

6:20pm More Sirens in Central Negev region…BeerSheva and Eastwards

6:09pm Rocket Alert Sderot… Bet Shikma

6:08pm Merchavim Region – Rocket Alerts

6:05pm Rocket Alert Hof Ashkelon x3

5:55pm Multiple Rocket Alerts Hof Ashkelon… Shar Hanegev… Netivot… Sdot Negev… Merchavim

5:31pm Rocket Alert Ashkelon, Hof Ashkelon – multiple launches

5:09pm Rocket Alerts Shaar HaNegev/Sedot HaNegev

4:45pm More Rocket alerts in Eshkol

4:42pm Rocket Alerts Eshkol Region

4:29pm Eshkol

4:21pm Sirens Hof Ashkelon… Ashkelon and surrounding area

4:00pm Sderot, Shaar Negev, Eshkol

3:56pm Ashkelon, Hof Ashkelon

3:49pm Eshkol

3:00pm Unilateral cease fire over? IDF Radio reports Netanyahu orders IDF to restart air strikes on Gaza, after dozens of rockets hit Israel, after 9:00am cease fire was ignored.

2:59 Sderot, Netivot, Otef Aza

2:42pm Ashkelon, Hof Ashkelon

2:35pm Mortars on Kissufim

2:31pm Eshkol, Ashdod

2:17pm Ashdod

2:15pm Ashkelon

2:06pm Re’im

1:58pm Zikkim, Karmiya

1:54pm Gush Dan – two missiles intercepted over central region by Iron Dome anti-missile defense system

1:33pm Givat Brenner, Rehovot, Bat Shlomo

1:31pm Shfela, Rishon Lezion, Netzer

1:09pm Shfela, Gezer, Mishmar David, Beit Hanan, Ness Tziona, Kfar Mordechai, Yavneh area

12:58pm Three rockets intercepted by the Iron Dome anti-missile system over Ashkelon, Ofakim and Rehovot.

12:55pm Greater Ashkelon 2x, Brosh, Tidhar, Netivot, Glilot

12:47pm Kissufim

12:40pm Hamas takes responsibility for missile fire at Haifa — but no impact sites are found by security personnel

12:31pm Zichron Ya’akov, Mayan Tzvi, Yoknea’m, Gido, Binyamina, Hadera, Carmel, Haifa coastal region

12:22pm Zikkim, Ir Ganim, Sarni, Rehovot, Ashkelot, Ness Tziona, Gan Shlomo, Givat Brenner, Ashdod, Beit Gamliel, Kfar Mordechai, Yavneh

12:21pm Ashkelon, Yad Mordechai, Be’er Ganim, Nitzanim

11:24am Ein Hashlosha

11:22am Ashdod, Ashdod, Bnei Darom, Nir Galim, Yad Mordechai, Netiv Ha’Asara, Ad Halom, Zikkim, Karmiya, Gan Yavneh, Hatzor, Nitzan, Ashkelon 2x, Ashdod 3x, Avigdor, Achva, Be’er Tuviya, Kiryat Malachi, Nir Galim 2x

11:18am Sha’ar HaNegev

11:12am Sderot, Nir Am, Sapir, Giv’im, Shikkim

10:37am Kerem Shalom

10:00am 2 rockets explode in Eshkol Regional Council – one hour after “ceasefire”

9:57am Ashkelon, Ami Oz, Eshkol Regional Council

9:15am Israel’s Security Cabinet accepts Egyptian proposed ceasefire.

8:52am Siren: Nir Oz

8:51am Siren: Eshkol Regional Council

8:33am Sirens: Zikkim, Ashkelon Coastal Region, Netiv Ha’Asara

7:32am Siren-Eshkol

Good morning. Ceasefire? Who knows. Most Israelis want Israel to first finish the job, then there will definitely be a cease fire.

6:33am Sirens: Hof Ashkelon

3:46am Siren-Eshkol

1:27am (Tuesday) Rocket slams into Eilat hotel

Gaza terrorists have fired some 30 rockets and mortars at Israel in response to the unilateral cease fire initiated by the Jerusalem government Tuesday morning.

An initial barrage of 10 rockets and missiles was fired at southern Israel late Tuesday morning, underlining the group’s rejection of a cease fire proposal advanced by Egypt and begun by Israel at 9am. Grad missiles exploded shortly after 11:30 am in the port city of Ashdod, re-traumatizing residents and destroying more property.

One house sustained a direct hit in Ashdod, but miraculously no one was physically injured. Several residents were treated for shock, however, according to police. Four other missiles were intercepted directly over the city by the Iron Dome anti-missile defense system, indicating they were all heading for populated areas. Shorter-range rockets also landed in the Sha’ar HaNegev Regional Council district. Both were proof Hamas intended to make good on its word to reject the cease fire proposal advanced by Egypt.

A few minutes later, two rockets were intercepted over the town of Netivot, and an IDF soldier sustained shrapnel wounds in a rocket attack on the town of Sderot. The attack was the third since Israel’s security cabinet had announced its decision to unilaterally stop firing – although, the IDF warned, defensive action would still be taken and offensive responses would be considered as the situation warranted.

By midday, Hamas had fired barrages aimed at Haifa, Hadera, Ness Tziona, Ashdod, Yavneh, Rehovot and Ashkelon, among numerous other targets. Two missiles were intercepted by the Iron Dome system above central Israel a few minutes before 2 pm.

Gaza’s Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri told international reporters Tuesday morning, “The responses of resistance will continue until the demands of our people are achieved. Any unilateral Israeli cessation has no value in the light of the large crimes and the disastrous humanitarian situation.”

Among other points, the proposal, accepted unilaterally by Israel’s security cabinet in a 6-2 vote Tuesday morning, called for border crossings (from Israel) to Gaza to “be opened,” with the movement of people and goods to be “facilitated once the security situation becomes stable on the ground.”

One hour after Israel announced it had accepted Egypt’s proposed cease fire with Gaza, Hamas terrorists responded with a terse statement. “Don’t speak to us about a “calm” or ‘ceasefire.’ Our rockets will continue to land in your territory,” Gaza’s ruling faction promised.

The terrorist group punctuated its response with rocket fire aimed at a group of communities in the Eshkol Regional Council district. Two rockets landed in open areas.

About half an hour later, a Color Red incoming rocket alert sent members of Kibbutz Kerem Shalom racing for their shelters as well. In that area, Israelis have only 15 seconds to reach a safe space before a rocket explodes in their midst.

According to the terms of the proposal accepted by Israel, firing was to cease at 9 am. Between 9am and 12 noon, however, 22 rockets and missiles were fired at Israel from Gaza.

IDF Spokesman Lt.Col. Peter Lerner said in a statement sent to media at 10:50 am, “In accordance with the government directives, the IDF now holds fire. We remain alert and preserve high preparedness levels, both defensive and offensive. If the Hamas terror organization will fire at Israel, we shall respond.”

The vote by the security cabinet – which was not unanimous – also approved “forceful action” if Hamas violated the agreement, which it did within the hour. But it is not clear what, if anything, Israel will do, nor did officials give any indication what the term “forceful action” might mean.

Although Israeli officials tried to paint the cease fire acceptance as a victory, civilians calling in to radio programs Tuesday morning were anything but satisfied. Most expressed disappointment and outrage that Israel was backing away without first eliminating the rocket fire from Gaza as Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu had promised to do at the outset of launching Operation Protective Edge. “The goals of the operation were to restore quiet for a long period of time and that goal has been achieved,” said a diplomatic source immediately following the cabinet meeting.

However, that is not true and quiet has not, in fact, been achieved at all – as was proved one scant hour after the cabinet vote.

The one advantage Israelis have gained is the certain knowledge – previously unrevealed – about the expansion and sophistication of the Hamas arsenal and military force, and the fact there is no longer anywhere in the country safe from Gaza missile fire. We are no longer facing a group of primitive terrorists in Gaza; we now face a full-fledged Hamas military force, similar to Hezbollah in Lebanon, plus ISIS. That issue must be dealt with and the sooner, the better.

Israel’s eight-member Security Council voted Tuesday morning to accept Egypt’s proposal for a cease fire with the Hamas terrorist rulers of Gaza, effective 9 am.

Among other points, it called for border crossings (from Israel) to Gaza to “be opened,” with the movement of people and goods to be “facilitated once the security situation becomes stable on the ground.”

Within 48 hours of the ceasefire – at 9 am Thursday – Egypt was expected to convene a meeting of Israeli and Hamas negotiators.

IDF Spokesman Lt.Col. Peter Lerner said in a statement sent to media, “In accordance with the government directives, the IDF now holds fire. We remain alert and preserve high preparedness levels, both defensive and offensive. If the Hamas terror organization will fire at Israel, we shall respond.”

Between 9am and 12 noon, 22 rockets and missiles were fired at Israel from Gaza.

Egypt’s goal in advancing the ceasefire was to prevent Israel from initiating a ground invasion of Gaza and possibly being forced to reconquer the territory — maybe this time permanently.

Both Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman, chairman of the Yisrael Beytenu party, and Economic Minister Naftali Bennett, chairman of the Bayit Yehudi party, opposed the move.

The cabinet also decided that Israel will “act forcefully” if Hamas violates the agreement – but no details were released on precisely what that means.

Hamas rejected the ceasefire outright, calling it “surrender and capitulation.” Within one hour, two rockets exploded in the Eshkol Regional Council district and shortly after, a Color Red rocket alert siren was activated at Kibbutz Kerem Shalom as well.

Israeli officials painted the cease fire as a victory, saying the IDF’s Operation Protective Edge had thus far left Hamas “much weaker.”

A diplomatic source told media “The goals of the operation were to restore quiet for a long period of time and that goal has been achieved. Hamas did not achieve its goal of striking Israel to the degree it believed that it could, and its power was weakened.”

The Cairo government advanced the proposal to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Monday evening. It followed a week that saw more than 1,100 missiles fired at Israeli civilians, and in return, some 1,300 IDF targeted air strikes carried out in Gaza.