Saturday Jun 13, 2026
NEWSLETTER
www.israelhayom.com
  • Home
  • News
    • Israel
    • Israel at War
    • Middle East
    • United States
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
  • In Memoriam
www.israelhayom.com
  • Home
  • News
    • Israel
    • Israel at War
    • Middle East
    • United States
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
  • In Memoriam
www.israelhayom.com
Home News

IDF hits balloon terror cell in Gaza; border crossing may not reopen

by  Daniel Siryoti , Lilach Shoval and Nikki Guttman
Published on  07-23-2018 00:00
Last modified: 03-08-2021 13:41
IDF hits balloon terror cell in Gaza; border crossing may not reopen

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eizenkot (far right) at the Gaza border

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Israeli aircraft targeted a terror cell in northern Gaza on Sunday after it had launched firebomb balloons into Israeli territory.

According to Palestinian reports, six people were wounded in the Israeli strike, two of them critically.

Earlier Sunday, incendiary devices launched from Gaza caused two brush fires in Israeli territory. An incendiary balloon that didn't cause any damage was also found in an open area near a community in the Eshkol region in southern Israel.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eizenkot, meanwhile, visited the spot where Staff Sgt. Aviv Levi was shot and killed Friday on the Gaza border. Eizenkot held a briefing with GOC Southern Command, the commander of the Gaza Division and other high ranking officers in the sector.

Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman also toured the Gaza border on Sunday and participated in security assessments at the Kerem Shalom border crossing.

He said that Israel will reopen the crossing - Gaza's main commercial crossing - and expand Gaza's fishing permits on Tuesday if the lull in cross-border tensions continues to hold.

"The key is zero incendiary balloons, zero friction on the fence and zero rockets or shootings. The residents of Gaza need to understand that as long as there are incendiary balloons and fires on our side, on their side too life won't return to normal," Lieberman added.

Israel shut the Kerem Shalom border terminal and reduced the fishing zone to 11 kilometers (6 miles) from 17 kilometers (9 miles) on July 9 in response to incendiary kites and balloons launched over the border to start fires in Israel as part of weeks of border protests.

"If today and tomorrow see a continuation of the situation as it was yesterday, then on Tuesday we will resume routine activity here at Kerem Shalom [border terminal] and return the fishing zone to the ranges previously in place," Lieberman said.

It was not clear whether Sunday's balloon launch would foil the defense minister's plan to reopen the crossing.

During the terminal's closure, humanitarian aid was still allowed, though Lieberman said traffic slowed to about 140 trucks a day from some 1,000 to 1,100 trucks per day.

Related Posts

Israeli officials: 'The leak came from US elements opposed to an attack on Iran'Reuters, AP

White House reveals to Israel Hayom outline of deal with Iran

by Or Shaked

A senior White House official said in a briefing that the chances of signing an agreement in the coming days...

Uranium, Hormuz and billions for Tehran: Inside the deal to end the war

Uranium, Hormuz and billions for Tehran: Inside the deal to end the war

by Danny Zaken

Iran has agreed to hand over its enriched uranium, forgo enrichment in the long term and open the Strait of...

Trump threatens return to action in Hormuz

Trump: Deal with Iran to be signed within days

by Or Shaked

The US president said a deal had been reached with Tehran and would be signed over the weekend. "The most...

Menu

Analysis 

Archaeology

Blogpost

Business & Finance

Culture

Exclusive

Explainer

Environment

 

Features

Health

In Brief

Jewish World

Judea and Samaria

Lifestyle

Cyber & Internet

Sports

 

Diplomacy 

Iran & The Gulf

Gaza Strip

Politics

Shopping

Terms of use

Privacy Policy

Submissions

Contact Us

About Us

The first issue of Israel Hayom appeared on July 30, 2007. Israel Hayom was founded on the belief that the Israeli public deserves better, more balanced and more accurate journalism. Journalism that speaks, not shouts. Journalism of a different kind. And free of charge.

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il

  • Home
  • News
    • Israel at War
    • Israel
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
    • Environment & Wildlife
    • Health & Wellness
  • In Memoriam
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Submit your opinion
  • Terms and conditions

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il

Newsletter

[contact-form-7 id=”508379″ html_id=”isrh_form_Newsletter_en” title=”newsletter_subscribe”]

  • Home
  • News
    • Israel at War
    • Israel
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
    • Environment & Wildlife
    • Health & Wellness
  • In Memoriam
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Submit your opinion
  • Terms and conditions

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il