Yom Shabbat
Saturday
8 Av 5782
August 6 2022
UPDATE 9:00 pm
It’s 9:00 pm and Ashdod was just hit again.
At 7:35 pm the Jewish day changed and it became the 9th of Av–the day on which we mourn the destruction of our Temples in Jerusalem. The Tisha B’Av fast began in Jerusalem at 7:36 this evening and ends at 7:59 pm.
Islamic Jihad and Hamas are already warning that permitting Jews on the Temple Mount tonight and tomorrow will be a extreme provocation that will be met by more attacks.
What will the government do? Will it capitulate to the demands of these two terror organizations or will it stand proudly and “permit” Jews and go to our holiest place?
Since 6 pm, there has been a steady stream of missile attacks. We now stand at 440 missiles fired at southern Israel.
This will be our last update until tomorrow morning Israel time.
UPDATE 6:00 pm
Tel Aviv was just targeted as well as surrounding cities in central Israel. A number of missiles headed in that direction were shot down over Ashkelon and Ashdod. I will post some photos that I have just taken of intercepts in a later update.
The border communities have continued to be pounded over the last 4 hours. The wonderful community of Nahal Oz has been hit 4 times in the last hour alone. Other communities and cities struck include Kissufim, Netivot, Ashkelon, Kfar Maimon, Toshiya, Be’eri, Sderot, Nir Am, and Sha’ar Hanegev.
In a barrage targeting Sderot just after 2 pm, a home was badly hit; fortunately no residents were wounded.
More than 100 missiles have been fired at southern Israel since 2 pm–bringing the total fired to some 375.
The IAF continues to strike Islamic Jihad targets in Gaza:
Where a Islamic Jihad warehouse was until 3 hours ago.
UPDATE 2:00 pm
The War Accelerates
A tank crew member loads up a few minutes ago (photo Reuven Castro).
In the six hours since our 8 am update this morning, Islamic Jihad has increased the pace of missile fire. There were 10 barrages of missiles between 12:00-1:00pm alone. All told, around 250 missiles have now been fired at Israel.
Click here to see missiles being fired from Gaza.
*Ashdod was targeted at noon. Two missiles were intercepted directly over our house–with accompanying concussive explosions. During the noon firing which lasted about three minutes, a total of 60 missiles were fired at Ashdod, Ashkelon, Sderot, and Netivot.
*Missiles have been fired at Israeli cities as far away from Gaza as Modi’in and Bat Yam.
*Israeli firefighting crews have been busy trying to extinguish dozens of fires which started when Islamic Jihad missiles were shot down.
*IDF commando units are now operating in Gaza.
*According to the IDF spokesman, there have been more than 30 aerial strikes at Islamic Jihad targets. Five missile launchers, six missile production workshops, six observation posts, and numerous Islamic Jihad warehouses have been destroyed.
*Another terrorist leader on a motorcycle was eliminated as was a cell on its way to fire mortars at IDF troops.
*Israeli helicopter gunships have attacked 3 Islamic Jihad military positions.
*Three Israelis including 2 soldiers were wounded when hit by shrapnel from a falling missile.
UPDATE 8:00 am
A Hellacious Night in the South
The Iron Dome in action in southern Israel early this morning (photo: Walla!).
As of this hour, southern Israel has been hit by some 200 missiles. Here in Ashdod, we hear continuous booms from the northern Ashkelon area about 2 miles to the south.
By far, the hardest hit area has been that around Sderot (including Nahal Oz, Nir Am, Kissufim, Kerem Shalom). Since midnight, barrages of missiles hit at 12:09 am, 12:14 am, 12: 45 am, 12:51 am, 1:04 am, 2:07 am, 2:49 am, 3:00 am, 4:30 am, 4:33 am, 6:16 am, 7:07 am, 7:39 am, 7:49 am, 7:51 am, and right at this moment.
We have no word from MADA about injuries.
The IDF has labeled the current warfare as “Operation Dawn”. Not only are Islamic Jihad assets being hit in Gaza, but also numerous terrorists have been captured in Judea and Samaria overnight.
Currently, the estimate is that the “operation” will take about a week despite the fact that the Egyptians, Americans, and Europeans are all calling for a halt to attacks on both sides.
The Iron Dome batteries have been heavily used since this war began at 4:15 pm yesterday afternoon.
The scene over Ashkelon a few hours ago (photo: Walla!).
Even though we at OneIsrael do not usually blog on Shabbat, we will continue to post updates throughout the day.
A student from Malawi, who had worked with an Israeli health volunteer in his country battling AIDS, came up to us as we walked down the street in the UC-Davis Picnic Day Parade and wanted to carry the Israeli flag.