Combined News Sources
Washington – An immediate and unconditional ceasefire ending Israel’s assault on Hamas is a “clear strategic imperative” to Israel, US President Barack Obama told Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu in a phone call on Sunday.
While the conversation focused on the immediate concerns of the United States, the president also discussed the broader implications of the Gaza operation, Protective Edge, now over two weeks old and burdened with a mounting death toll, both within the Israel Defense Forces and the civilian population of Gaza.
Obama told Netanyahu he wants a ceasefire “that both allows Palestinians in Gaza to lead normal lives and addresses Gaza’s long-term development and economic needs, while strengthening the Palestinian Authority,” the White House said, in a readout of the call to reporters.
For a permanent ceasefire to be agreed upon, Hamas is requiring an end to Israel’s blockade of Gaza, formed to prevent Hamas from obtaining weapons to attack the Jewish state.
Minister of Justice Tzipi Livni has told US Secretary of State John Kerry that Israel categorically rejects this condition, and indeed, Netanyahu’s cabinet has unanimously voted against the measure as part of an end to the current crisis.
Obama reiterated his belief that Israel has a right to defend itself, and condemned Hamas’ construction of tunnels and continuation of rocket fire into civilian areas.
“Ultimately, any lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict must ensure the disarmament of terrorist groups and the demilitarization of Gaza,” Obama expressed.
In a recent poll, over 85 percent of Israelis support the Israeli government continuing the military operation until Hamas’ tunnels into Israel are completely destroyed.
Earlier, despite agreeing to a 24-hour humanitarian truce that was to start at 2pm, Hamas fired several rockets at Israel after the declared time. Israel called off its own 24-hour truce earlier in the day after the Gaza-based terrorist organization fired rockets into southern and central Israel.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday accused Hamas of violating a ceasefire that it had itself called for and vowed that Israeli operations in Gaza would continue.
“They are violating their own ceasefire. Under these circumstances, Israel will do what it must do to defend its people,” Netanyahu told the news network CNN.
In a separate interview with CBS, Netanyahu said Israel would not allow “a ruthless terror organization… to decide when it’s convenient for them to stop for a moment, rearm, and continue firing on our citizens and our people.”
Meanwhile, rockets continued raining down on southern Israel. A rocket hit a house in Sha’ar HaNegev Regional Council, lightly wounding a woman who was hit by shrapnel. The Iron Dome intercepted 4 rockets over Kiryat Gat. Hamas’ armed wing took responsibilty for the rockets fired at Kiryat Gat, saying they were fired “because Israel violated the ceasefire.”
Four rockets were then fired at Be’er Sheva, one intercepted and four others hit open areas. A man was lightly wounded from shrapnel to his back.
Hamas Terrorists Fire Rockets from a Gazan School
“In response to UN intervention and considering the situation of our people and the occasion of Eid, it has been agreed among resistance factions to endorse a 24-hour humanitarian calm, starting from 2 pm on Sunday,” Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters.
The UN envoy to the Middle East Process had sent Israel a request for a humanitarian ceasefire Sunday afternoon, after the IDF restarted its operations in the wake of the unilateral Israeli truce violated by Hamas.
Hamas Terrorists Fire a Rocket from a Graveyard
An Israeli source confirmed Serry’s request but emphasized that Hamas has to declare a ceasefire before the request would be considered. Israel has yet to respond to Hamas’ declaration.
After the designated 2pm start-time, when rockets failed to stop falling, Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said that “so far the humanitarian ceasefire hasn’t come into effect. When it does, we’ll announce it.”
I wish the fighting would i hope moshiach will come before this gets even more violent
Why doesnt canada attack the United States, what would Obama say then
Exactly!
Obama should be invited for a holiday in Shderot just for two weeks.
He should not be allowed to run to any shelters .
Then let him ask for a ceasefire!!
A cease fire so Obama and his friends can wipe out our land??? No way!!!!
Yes, he has done something different. Its not racist its simply a disagreement of his actions and polivies. I dont think you are fully aware of how Obama is acting as president now, go read the news and see, because clearly you are not fully aware. For instance, Obama administration gave money to a terroeist organization in Gaza, and they used all the money to build tunnels. Also, who goes fundraising at a time of war?!!!
Its not racism, its based on how he acted and his policies.
Some of these comments are hypocritical.
..a ceasefire from hamas ? No ?
then slam down the phone, Netanyahu
It is sickening to see all the petty anti-obama rhetoric from frum Jews when he has done nothing different than former, republican presidents. You are doing yourselves no favors with the baseless hatred and racism, especially shluchim with a facebook presence! Use your own sechel, not Rush Limbaugh’s!
The fact that anybody even cares what Obama says is funny…
Lone soldier is not a good comparison. It’s an awful and hurtful comparison.
You say that Israel has a right to defend itself and that we have to demilitarize Hamas. But you say that we need to agree to an unconditional, immediate (one-sided) ceasefire. Do you think that demilitarizing Hamas will happen automatically? Or perhaps you think that they will be so grateful that we are sparing their citizens from the emotional trauma that our citizens are going through, that they will smile sweetly and hand over all their weapons. THE IDF IS DEMILITARIZING GAZA. And until we finish doing so, there can be no ceasefire and no security for Israel. Just how… Read more »
They give money for Iron Dome missiles, and fund Hamas with money to purchase rockets and build tunnels. Bibi will finish the job. Obama should go play golf in Gaza.
BH. Say Tehillim where ever you are. This will help Israel, and all Jewish people, more then the comments of how bad Bush and Obama are. EFES ZULATO – there is nothing besides Hashem. Don’t look at the goverment, look at yourself.
Just gave 47 million to Gaza!!! Hes helping the enemy
Which of the American presidents was better for Israel is a moot question at this point; best to keep it simple and stick to the old, from-the-gut, point of reference: “Is [it] [s/he] likely to be good for the Jews or bad for the Jews?” If we’ve learned anything at all it’s that we need do a good deal of homework before we vote, regardless of lifelong party leanings; and while we’re never guaranteed that we’d be making the right decision, we need to do our best to minimize negative surprises. For example, given his upbringing and the cronies he… Read more »
Even by wwII why did america wake up at the last minute- (whoever the president was)? we ONLY need Hashem! Hashem Himself took us out of mitzrayim- Hashem Himself will be with us to win this as well! may it happen speedly!
The US don’t give the Israelis help out of love-THEY NEED ISRAEL-It’s the only place that they can count on in the area
Agreed. Israel should NOT give in to international pressure and do what they need to do to protect themselves.
By the same token, don’t be a Kafuy Tov. The U.S. has funded and provided Israel with the Iron Dome missiles they are using to shoot down the rockets. Be grateful for that.
Doesn’t everyone realize by now that Israel will always go it alone? No one will help. We have no one to rely on. We are the lone soldier. We only have to help and protect each other . No one out there cares about us. They hate and are jealous of us. Eisov sone as Yaakov. It has been like this since the world was made. The rebbe said we have to not give in and. Defend our homes. Public opinion will not be for us no matter what we do. So hashem you have to defend your children, our… Read more »
This news is sickening and shouldn’t be posted on this website altogether.
Obama was born Muslim so his identity with Hamas is par for the course, however Bibi was born jewish and he should be acting in the best interests of the Jewish people and not bend over backwards to any iota of pressure.
No, I voted for McCain in 2008 and for Romney in 2012. I disagree with Obama on his economic and some other policies.
Regarding Israel, you are delusional if you believe that Obama is any different than Bush, Clinton, Reagan etc. etc.
Obama said the exact same things that his predecessors have said: “Israel has a right to defend itself… but…we hope for a ceasefire in the region”.
Find me an iota of proof that Obama has been any worse on Israeli policy than Bush, and I will concede with your analysis about Mitt Romney.
Why doesn’t Obama make a truce with the Taliban? Or why do people not point out that we were attacked on one day and have been at war for years with over 120,000 civilian deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan?? Ridiculous! Moshiach is for sure on his way!
while there is a war going on…
My point was: Obama should go to Israel to see what its like to live under constant rocket attack I never said he should actually live there.
Are you an Obama supporter? All I was saying was that Obama is not showing enough support for Israel and if Romney were President he would back Israel and not pressure any cease fire, and let Israel do what it needs to defend itself.
Can you try to talk to the people you know to talk some sense into President Obama.
It’s interesting to see that Obama has finished his golf vacation and now attend to …
אנו מאמינים בני מאמינים ואין לנו על מי להשען אלא על אבינו שבשמים!
We are believers children of believers and we have no one upon whom to rely except for our Father in Heaven….
Stop with the nonsense.
The Gaza fiasco happened under BUSH. That’s right, BUSH. Hamas was elected to govern Gaza due to Bush’s incessant pressure that there be elections by the citizens of Gaza.
If we had Romney, he’d be doing the same as Obama — asking for a ceasefire.
I’ve said this a million times and I will say it again. Israel needs to MAN UP and do the right thing. The U.S. will support Israel REGARDLESS of the threats.
Stop worrying about what the media is saying or international pressure, NETANYAHU, MAN UP AND DEFEND ISRAEL!
Then things would be different.
Romney is a true friend of Israel.
Obama is NOT.
Obama can’t even manage his own back yard -what a joke he is.
He should go to Israel and be there when a rocket falls
That no other army will do what the IDF is doing to avoid civilian casualties. Even soldiers are putting their own lives at risk when warning as the terrorists get a warning, too.
This message needs to spread to the world
Every normal person knows who Obama is. Its not a secret and his plans against not only Jews but… are not a secret anymore. Which is good, evil shows his face. But Russian president is same level of evil. Thats why Obama got his kick in his face from Putin. We don’t need ether Obama or anyone like him to live in Israel, excuse me! Let them be judged by Hashem immediately!
He secretly hates the Jews. Why doesn’t he call for an immediate cease fire with russia and Ukraine??? Obama should live in Israel, and see what it’s like.
If Obama is calling for a cease fire that means that Israel is beating the daylights out of Hamas. Go IDF.
This President is evil.
Mosab Hassan Yousef, a Hamas defector who worked for 10 years as an informer for the Shin Bet, explained to CNN last week that, for Gaza’s rulers, human life is of no consequence. “Hamas does not care about the lives of Palestinians, or the lives of Israelis, or Americans; they don’t care about their own lives,” Yousef said. “They consider dying for their ideology a way of worship. “Hamas is not seeking coexistence and compromise; Hamas is seeking conquest,” he added. “The destruction of the state of Israel is not the Hamas final destination.” “In the mosques, Hamas told us… Read more »