Gaza Flare-up: 212 Gazans Killed in Israeli Strikes, IDF Downs Drone Near Jordan Border

Biden tells Netanyahu he supports cease-fire ■ Israel kills 150 Hamas, Islamic Jihad commanders ■ At least 198 Gazans killed in Israeli strikes, as media tower downed ■ 10 dead in Israel; 3,000 rockets fired at it since flare-up began.

Fighting between Israel and Hamas escalated in what has become the heaviest flare-up since the 2014 Gaza War. At least 212 people were killed in the Gaza Strip, and 10 in Israel in the most intensive aerial exchanges in years.

On Saturday, an Israeli man was killed after a barrage of rocket fire targeted Tel Aviv and central Israel, shattering two days of calm in the region. Buildings and infrastructure have been damaged in several cities in central Israel and the IDF downed a media tower housing offices of  Al Jazeera, The Associated Press, and other media outlets.  Israel carried out hundreds of air and several ground strikes in Gaza, but IDF troops did not enter Gaza as part of a ground invasion. Gazan militants have fired some 3,000 rockets at central and southern Israel since Monday.At least 212 Palestinians have been killed in the week of heavy airstrikes, including 61 children and 36 women, with more than 1,400 people wounded, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The Israeli army says it continued attacking Hamas posts overnight, including private homes of Hamas commanders and five headquarters.  It also carried out 65 strikes on Hamas tunnels throughout the Gaza Strip.In addition, the IDF spokesperson said at least 150 Hamas and Islamic Jihad commanders have been killed since the conflict erupted last week. Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs Committee will request the Biden administration to delay a $735 million sale of precision-guided missiles to Israel pending review, sources confirmed to Media .Democrats held an emergency meeting on the proposed sale, Media  learned, after the Washington Post reported the sale of weapons including Joint Direct Attack Munitions (“JDAM”) kits that transform bombs into precision-guided missiles and Guided Bomb Unit-39s (GBU-39), a weapon developed for penetrating fortified facilities located deep underground. The U.S. Defense Department previously sold Israel 14,500 JDAMs in a $1.8 billion arms sale in 2015.The State Department, required by law to provide a 15-day advance notification of any arms sale, originally provided official notice of the proposed sale on May 5 ahead of the recent round of violence. (Ben Samuels)United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon says coordinating with Lebanese armed forces in enhancing security control in southern Lebanon, has intensified patrols to prevent further incidents that endanger safety of local population. (Reuters)

The U.S. President Joe Biden spoke overnight Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. The President reiterated his firm support for Israel’s right to defend itself against indiscriminate rocket attacks, a White House statement said.

Biden welcomed efforts to address inter-communal violence and to bring calm to Jerusalem. He encouraged Israel to make every effort to ensure the protection of innocent civilians. The two leaders discussed progress in Israel’s military operations against Hamas and other terrorist groups in Gaza, the statement added.Moreover, Biden expressed his support for a ceasefire and discussed U.S. engagement with Egypt and other partners towards that end. The two leaders agreed that they and their teams would remain in close touch. (Ben Samuels)

The Israeli army said that a siren had sounded in northern Israel, near the border with Lebanon, and that they were investigating.

Residents of Misgav, near the border, were instructed to stay in their homes. Residents also reported hearing explosions. Echoes of the explosions could be heard in nearby towns including Metula.The head of the Upper Galilee Regional Council said, “A siren was heard in Misgav and we heard an explosion. We are speaking with the army about opening additional shelters in the area. For now, there are no changes to the guidelines.” (Noa Shpigel)Jordan’s king, in a call with the United Nations’ secretary-general, said the “recurrent provocative Israeli actions against Palestinians have led to the ongoing escalation, pushing the region towards more tension,” the royal court wrote on Twitter on Monday.

King Abdullah said the “international community must shoulder its responsibility, move actively to stop Israeli violations in Jerusalem, aggression on Gaza,” adding that, “he has always warned against altering the historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem,” according to the royal court. (Reuters)

10:07 P.M. Rockets that landed in Sderot hit playpark, factory

The two rockets that landed in Sderot in the previous barrage had hit a factory in the city’s industrial zone and a playpark. There are no casaulties. (Almog Ben Zikri)  

10:05 P.M. Sirens sound in Sderot, Gaza border communities

9:50 P.M. Two rockets land in Sderot

The Sderot Municipality said that two rockets exploded within the city, and it is not yet known whether there are casaulties. Earlier reports said four rockets had hit the city.

Residents have been instructed to remain in their shelters and not to approach the impact sites. (Almog Ben Zikri) 

9:47 P.M. Netanyahu: We will continue to strike terror targets

In a statement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he has finished his situational assessment at IDF headquarters, and that he approved military plans along with the defense minister, the chief of staff, and the heads of the National Security Council, the Shin Bet and the Mossad.

“The instructions are to continue to strike terror targets,” a statement from the prime minister said. “The IDF does that well; today it assassinated another senior commander of the Islamic Jihad, we hit Hamas’ naval unit and we continue to strike underground, with Hamas’ ‘subway’ and other targets. We will continue to do everything needed in order to restore calm and security for all of Israel’s citizens.” (Jonathan Lis)

9:40 P.M. Sirens sound in Sderot and Sha’ar Hanegev Regional Council (Almog Ben Zikri)

9:38 P.M. One dead following Israeli army shooting in the West Bank, Palestinians say

The Palestinian Health Ministry said Monday that the Israeli army has shot and killed one person in the al-Arroub refugee camp in the West Bank. (Jack Khoury)

9:21 P.M. Israeli foreign minister thanks Blinken for his ‘full support’

Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi wrote on Twitter that he finished speaking with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. “I thanked him for the way he condemned Hamas’ terror activities and his full backing of Israel’s right to defend itself, mainly for the American support today at the United Nations Security Council,” he wrote.

“I emphasized to him that Israel will continue to act against the Hamas terror organization until calm returns to the communities in Israel’s south and center,” he wrote.

“The entire international community must condemn Hamas, which uses its citizens as a human shield and operates under the cover of the population of the Gaza Strip.” (Jonathan Lis)

9:11 P.M. Sirens sound in Gaza border communities

Barrage fired from Gaza at Netivot and Sdot Negev Council.

9:01 P.M. France’s Macron says to work with Jordan, Egypt leaders on Israel-Gaza ceasefire, talks

France’s president said on Monday he would in the coming days work with Egypt’s president and Jordan’s king on a concrete proposal for a ceasefire and a possible path to discussions between Israel and the Palestinians.

Speaking at a news conference, Emmanuel Macron also said he would bring up the bombing by Israeli warplanes of a building that housed media outlets in Gaza when he next speaks to Israel’s prime minister.