IDF calls up Air Force reservists amid terror attacks, rocket barrages

IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi convened a situation assessment on Friday afternoon, during which he ordered the call up of some reserves, with an emphasis on air defense and offensive formations in the Air Force, in light of the tensions in the region.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi attended a situational assessment at the Israeli military's Northern Command on Friday afternoon, after the IDF struck Hamas targets in Lebanon overnight.

Iran's foreign ministry on Friday condemned Israeli strikes in Lebanon and Gaza, carried out in retaliation for rocket attacks, and called for action by international bodies, state media reported.

Spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said the ministry "strongly condemned the attacks... as a violation of Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity and a gross violation of international law and human rights of the oppressed Palestinian nation, and called for an effective response by world bodies", state media said.

Kanaani also referred to phone calls the president and foreign affairs minister of Iran made with counterparts of other Islamic countries, as well as with Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Hissein Brahim Taha, where the foreign ministry spokesman emphasized the need for an emergency meeting and need to take a strong position "in support of the oppressed Palestinian nation," the report said.

Kanaani also emphasized that the phone call included the need to prevent another desecration of the al-Aqsa mosque.

The Israeli government must apply sovereignty in the Jordan Valley, Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan said in response to the deadly terror attack which claimed the lives of two Israelis on Friday.

"The Jewish People are up against a murderous and barbaric wave of terror led by the terrorist in a suit Abu Mazen [Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas] and his murderous friends at the PA," Dagan said in a statement. "Unfortunately, the Israeli government is not taking the appropriate action."

"The Israeli government must convene today," Dagan said, calling on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to declare annexation and application of Israeli sovereignty in the Jordan Valley "today."

China will continue to work hard to promote early and proper settlement of the Palestinian issue, the foreign ministry quoted China's special envoy for Middle East affairs as saying on Friday.

China is deeply concerned about the heightened conflict that Israel has with the Palestinians and Lebanon, and calls for maximum calm and restraint from all sides, especially Israel, Special Envoy of the Chinese Government on the Middle East Zhai Jun said when meeting Middle East envoys in Beijing.

The Home Front Command has lifted a directive issued earlier on Friday morning instructing residents of communities near the Gaza border to stay near shelters. There are now no special instructions for residents of the area.

A rocket alert was activated in an open area near the border with the Gaza Strip on Friday morning, three hours after the last rockets were fired from the Strip.

Shortly after the rocket alert, the IDF fired artillery shells toward a field east of Gaza City, according to Palestinian reports.

Local officials from southern Israel called for a stronger response to the terrorist groups in the Gaza Strip amid reports that Israel and Hamas were headed towards a cease of the current round of clashes.

The head of the Sdot Negev Regional Council, Tamir Aidan, expressed outrage at reports that Israel and Hamas were headed towards calming the situation, stating "The measured response of the security forces last night does not restore deterrence and sends a bad message to the terrorists in Gaza and Lebanon!"

"I hope and want to believe that this reaction is the result of the totality of the circumstances at this time and I expect the political echelon to choose the timing as soon as possible and initiate decisive and painful action against the leaders of the terrorist organizations, including targeted assassinations in order to restore deterrence and create a different reality according to which the one who determines the agenda of the State of Israel in general and the surrounding settlements in particular is the State of Israel and not the terrorist organizations," said Aidan.

The mayor of Sderot, Alon Davidi, called on the government to act to restore deterrence on Friday, stating "Our Passover holiday was violated by the murderous terrorists who are trying in every way to harm us."

"The Israeli government should do everything necessary to restore peace to all the settlements as well as the deterrence that unfortunately has disappeared. We will continue to accompany our dear residents and provide all the assistance required during Shabbat and the holiday. I ask the residents to continue to adhere to the guidelines and stay near protected areas. Observing the guidelines saves lives."

On Friday morning, the Al-Araby Al-Jadeed news site reported that sources familiar with Egyptian mediation efforts expected a gradual calm to begin within a matter of hours, as both sides did not express a real desire to enter a larger confrontation.

UNIFIL also stated on Friday morning that both Israel and Lebanon had said that they are not interested in a conflict.

UNIFIL stated on Friday morning that it is working to restore calm and that both Israel and Lebanon had said that they are not interested in a conflict.

"The measures taken during the past day are dangerous and warn of a dangerous escalation," said UNIFIL.