The Times of Israel is liveblogging Monday’s events as they unfold.
IDF says striking Hamas targets in central Gaza; explosions heard in Sderot
The IDF is carrying out strikes on Hamas targets in the central Gaza Strip, according to an update from the military.
Residents of the southern city of Sderot report hearing loud explosions as a result of the strikes, the Maariv newspaper reports.
IDF says rocket sirens in Gaza border area were false alarms
Rocket alert sirens that sounded in the Gaza border community of Talmei Eliyahu a short while ago were determined to be false alarms, the IDF says.
Four more Democrats say Biden should step down, VP Harris replace him as presidential nominee — report
Four more Democrats in Congress have said they believe US President Joe Biden should step aside as the party’s nominee for president, according to an NBC report citing sources familiar with a call that took place earlier today.
The lawmakers mentioned in the report, Adam Smith of Washington, Jerry Nadler of New York, Mark Takano of California and Joe Morelle of New York, bring the number of Democrats in Congress calling for Biden to reconsider his bid for president to nearly a dozen, NBC reports.
The virtual meeting of senior Democratic representatives was scheduled by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
There is no comment from the Biden administration or the lawmakers on the report, which comes after the US president’s disastrous debate performance last month and amid a growing clamor from within his own party for him to bow out of the race.
Sources quoted in the NBC report say most of the lawmakers on the call believe that US Vice President Kamala Harris should replace Biden if he exits the race.
For now, Democratic heavyweights are largely keeping a lid on any simmering discontent with their leader — at least in public.
But with election day just four months away, any move to replace Biden as the nominee would need to be made sooner rather than later, and the party will be scrutinized for any signs of more open rebellion.
Agencies contributed to this report.
Rocket alert sirens sounding in Gaza border community
Sirens are sounding in the southern community of Talmei Eliyahu near the border with Gaza, warning of incoming rocket fire.
There are no immediate reports of injures or damage.
Red Alert [00:21:19] – 1 Alert:
• Gaza Envelope — Talmei Eliyahu#Israel #RocketAlert #RedAlert pic.twitter.com/U2a0Ux38PL
— ILRedAlert (@ILRedAlert) July 7, 2024
Report: Shin Bet chief to head up negotiating team departing for Cairo tomorrow
Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar will reportedly head up a delegation being dispatched to Cairo tomorrow to take part in talks about the hostage release deal and the future control of the Rafah Crossing.
According to a report in the Walla news site, Bar will take part in talks in the Egyptian capital on a potential hostage-truce deal, including discussions of the names of the Palestinian security prisoners slated to be released, as well as the future control of the crossing.
The Rafah Crossing between Gaza and Egypt has been essentially shut since the IDF began operations in the city in May, infuriating Cairo. Earlier today, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu published a list of Israeli demands for the talks, which included a vow that Israel will not allow weapons smuggling between Egypt and Gaza, a likely reference to control of the crossing.
Mossad chief David Barnea was in Qatar last week and is slated to return again this week, as negotiations on a potential deal have been restarted.