The Hamas War > IDF pulls out of Rafah - Immediately Hamas launches rocket attack on Israel

 

IDF PULLS OUT FROM RAFAH, HAMAS IMMEDIATELY SHOOTS MISSILES AT CENTRAL ISRAEL

written by David Mark May 26, 2024 4.3K views

Shortly after the IDF capitulated to the ICJ and pulled most of its forces out of Rafah, including handing the Rafah crossing over to Egypt, Hamas fired a barrage of rockets at central Israel. Most were intercepted with one hitting an open area.

The IDF claimed it pulled the Givati Brigade from Rafah, reversing the gains it made in the first weeks of the operation, in order to give them “a rest.” However, the timing of the retreat, which corresponds to the ICJ ruling that Israel must end the Rafah operation makes the IDF move appear connected to the ruling.

International Court of Justice in The Hague (ICJ) ruled on Friday that Israel must “immediately halt its military offensive, and any other action in the Rafah Governorate, which may inflict on the Palestinian group in Gaza conditions of life that could bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part,” there is some debate among legal scholars over what precisely this order means.”

The retreat comes at a time, when frustration is growing among the rank and file soldiers. Most recently a video was released of a reserve soldier claiming there were 100,000 soldiers ready to only follow Netanyahu to victory. Despite the current challenges with Gantz and Gallant, it is ultimately Netanyahu who has been unwilling to fire Gantz and Gallant and appoint competent military leaders ready for a real victory.The pressure from America to stop the war and capitulate is immense and despite the Prime Minister’s declaration that Israel won’t stop fighting, every retreat gives more power to Hamas and brings the terror group that much closer to victory. Soldiers are frustrated, hostage families are in desperation, the north is unlivable, and our leaders appears to be feckless.

Netanyahu stands like the King Saul of old, opposite the Philistines – scared to face Goliath on his own. We all know how that story ended.

The missile attack should have been sufficient for the IDF to turn around and go right back in. But, perhaps, that's what Hamas wanted.

Surprise! Russia is up to Something in the Ukraine, Again

The US has accused Russia of deploying more air defence systems in eastern Ukraine in breach of a ceasefire deal.

Pro-Russian rebels, Ukraine

The state department also said Russia was involved in training separatist forces in the area and building up its forces along the border.

The Kremlin has not yet responded to the claims.

A truce between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian rebels in east Ukraine was brokered by the West in Minsk in February.

Ukraine accuses Russia of arming the rebels and sending Russian troops over the border - a claim Moscow denies. Moscow denies everything, so what's the point of even asking?

State department spokeswoman Marie Harf said in a statement that "combined Russian-separatist forces" were violating the terms of the Minsk deal, keeping artillery and multiple rocket launchers in prohibited areas.

"The Russian military has deployed additional air defence systems into eastern Ukraine and moved several of these nearer the front lines," she said.

'Complex training'
"This is the highest amount of Russian air defence equipment in eastern Ukraine since August."

Ms Harf said the "increasingly complex nature" of training of pro-Russian forces in east Ukraine "leaves no doubt that Russia is involved".

"Russia is also building up its forces along its border with Ukraine," she said.

"After maintaining a relatively steady presence along the border, Russia is sending additional units there. These forces will give Russia its largest presence on the border since October 2014."

Earlier this month, about 300 US paratroopers arrived in western Ukraine to train with Ukrainian national guard units.

At the time, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned the move "could seriously destabilise" the situation in Ukraine.

One of the key points of the Minsk deal stipulates that all foreign armed groups, weapons and mercenaries should withdraw from Ukrainian territory.

The UN says at least 6,116 people have been killed since the fighting began in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions last April - a month after Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula.

Despite the ceasefire deal, sporadic exchanges of fire have taken place.