Bird sent from Gaza wearing harness carrying flammable material
Animals used by Palestinian terrorists to start fires in Israel, with a falcon found handing from a burned tree wearing a harness
First kites and balloons, and now birds are being used to by Palestinians in Gaza to set fires in southern Israel.
Israel Nature and Parks Authority personnel on Monday afternoon found a common kestrel, a member of the falcon family, hanging from a burned tree wearing a harness to which was attached a wire wrapped around flammable material.
The bird was discovered after workers put out a fire that had broken out in Habesor National Park.
It is the first time that an animal has been used to ignite fires, according to a statement from the Israel Nature and Parks Authority.
The authority said it is considering the possibility of filing a complaint – under the appropriate international treaties – over the use of an animal for terrorism.
The kestrel is a common bird in Israel.
At least eight large fires burned in southern Israel near the border with Gaza on Monday.
Palestinian cruelty to animals: Hamas terrorists sent today a rare falcon & attached to one of its legs an incendiary device in order to torch Israeli fields near the Gaza border.
9000 acres were burnt so far. Many wild animals were also burnt to death by Palestinian terrorists pic.twitter.com/gS20iHZmCJ
— Ofir Gendelman (@ofirgendelman) July 16, 2018
Meanwhile, on Monday evening, Israel announced it would again close the Kerem Shalom crossing, the only crossing for commercial goods and the main crossing for humanitarian aid between Israel and Gaza, after a rocket was fired into southern Israel earlier in the day despite a cease fire declared by Hamas late Saturday night.
The closure, which cuts off fuel and gas supplies to the coastal strip, will remain in effect until Sunday, the defence Ministry announced. Food and medicines will continue to be allowed to pass through the crossing to Gaza, but each shipment will require individual approval.
“The vindictive steps by Israel reflect the magnitude of the injustice and the crimes that are committed in the Gaza Strip. There will be severe consequences and Israel will have to take responsibility. It will never succeed in influencing the national position to continue the struggle and resistance until we achieve our rights and lift the siege,” Hamas, the terror organisation that runs the Gaza Strip, said in a statement.
At the same time, Egypt announced that it would temporarily close the Rafah crossing with Gaza due to a technical malfunction.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
