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Israeli soldier was 'dragged into a tunnel' by Gaza militants, says IDF

62 people have been killed on the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah today after the collapse of a US and UN brokered ceasefire

ISRAELI DEFENCE FORCES members have begun a search for a soldier they say was “dragged into a tunnel” by militants from Gaza this morning.

The missing man is being named as 23-year-old 2nd Lt. Hadar Goldin from Kfar Saba

Two other Israeli soldiers were killed during his capture, according to the IDF.

“Hamas terrorists killed two IDF soldiers during the suspected kidnapping of 2nd Lt. Goldin this morning,” and IDF spokesperson said on Twitter.

The IDF claims Hamas “took advantage of the latest ceasefire” in order to stage the kidnap, which they say happened as the Israeli soldiers were attempting to destroy the tunnel.

“Extensive searches” are now under way in southern Gaza.

Speaking to reporters at this home, Goldin’s father, Simha Goldin, said he’s “sure the army will not let up for a moment and will turn over every stone in Gaza to bring back Hadar safe and sound”.

The development could be a significant one: in 2006, Hamas kidnapped another soldier, Gilad Shalit, and held him captive for five years — he was freed five years later in exchange for the release of over 1,000 mainly Palestinian prisoners.

Death toll

The number of Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks on the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah today has reached 62, according to emergency services.

Another four people were killed in tank shelling of Khan Yunis, also in southern Gaza.

The killings follow the collapse of a US and UN brokered ceasefire, which had been aimed at giving civilians a reprieve from the violence.

AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Palestinians carry the bodies of eight members of the Bayoumi family, who were killed in an Israeli air strike on their building during their funeral in Nusseirat refugee camp, in the central Gaza Strip [Adel Hana/AP/Press Association Images]

The 72-hour truce had come as a compromise after Hamas rejected an Egyptian initiative earlier last month for a durable truce followed by talks.

Hamas had demanded guarantees that Israel would end its eight-year blockade of Gaza.

The conflict, which began on 8 July, has killed at least 1,500 on the Palestinian side, mostly civilians, and 63 Israeli soldiers and three civilians on the other.

Each side is blaming the other for breaking the truce.

Includes reporting from AFP.

Read Gaza truce in tatters as 27 are killed by intensive Israeli shelling

Read Israel to investigate shelling of UN school 

 

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210 Comments
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    Mute Martin Brennan
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    Nov 20th 2018, 8:12 PM

    Why oh why the surprise Fine Gael are past masters at attacking the poorest in society from children’s footwear to water charges. Leo epitomizes the contempt for those just getting by. Attacking Mary is fine but is a distraction from the fine dining he and his fellow politicians enjoy at the tax payers expense.
    Bet the state dinner for Micky D cost a fair euro the wine alone probably was over 100euro a bottle.
    Attacking the vulnerable is Leo and his buddy Eoins first resort as all the homeless children on our streets attest to

    189
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    Mute Seanniemac1983
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    Nov 20th 2018, 9:00 PM

    @Martin Brennan: mot defending AT ALL, I hate FG, but, maybe he looks after the richest because they actually get out and vote. People on lower rates of income talk a lot, moan a lot, post on Journal a lot but they don’t go out and vote en masse. Just look at SF polling vs outcomes over previous elections. Their support base are working class who simply don’t vote

    55
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    Mute Martin Brennan
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    Nov 20th 2018, 9:20 PM

    @Seanniemac1983: Your absolutely correct and it won’t change unfortunately and those who write the political spin in our media are so self absorbed they just write to promote a culture that keeps them in good jobs while auditioning for lucrative government advisors i.e Chris O Donoghue formerly Denis o Brien employee (technically he was self employed)

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    Mute Seanniemac1983
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    Nov 20th 2018, 10:32 PM

    @Martin Brennan: Would love to see mandatory voting. Results would be very interesting. Or even max two terms as TD so they’re not 100% fixated on re-election all the time

    13
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    Mute David Daly
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    Nov 20th 2018, 11:05 PM

    @Seanniemac1983: I would love to see any candidate worth voting for. That’s probably why people on lower incomes don’t vote, because they can’t be arsed voting in the next batch of thieves

    15
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    Mute Charles Williams
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    Nov 20th 2018, 9:10 PM

    Currently a nurse can claim €733 expenses in respect of buying and laundering uniforms, this compares with around €38,000 for a TD. It’s the €733 that Revenue are targeting not the €38,000.

    106
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    Mute Alan Walter Gallagher
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    Nov 20th 2018, 9:32 PM

    @Charles Williams: TDs get €38000 for laundering their “uniforms”?! Mind you, if theyre laying €60000 in tax on their €200000 wages it about evens out.

    See how I made up the figures too! #smh

    19
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    Mute Jumperoo
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    Nov 20th 2018, 8:12 PM

    Announce a measure where shop workers will lose €120 a year, and Sinn Fein says it’s a significant amount that they shouldn’t have to go without. But if a Budget change meant that somebody on shop worker wages would be better off by €120 a year, the likes of SF would says it’s an insult and a pittance of less than €2.50 per week. Anybody who keeps saying FFG out, to give something new a chance, should recognise that SF are just as two faced as the rest of them.

    98
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    Mute Brinster
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    Nov 21st 2018, 5:52 AM

    @Jumperoo:

    It’s not €120 per year either.

    It’s a deduction – not a credit.

    So for anyone earning less than €35k, it’s worth €24 per year.

    Fifty cent per week.

    As you say, if you have someone a tax break worth fifty cent per week, SF would go ballistic.

    8
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    Mute Adrian
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    Nov 20th 2018, 9:11 PM

    I wonder will politicians expenses be included in this expenses crackdown or is it one law for them and a different law of everybody else.

    65
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    Mute Paul Mc
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    Nov 20th 2018, 8:10 PM

    Varadkar acts like a big spoilt child most days.

    110
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    Mute Irish big fellow
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    Nov 20th 2018, 9:18 PM

    Surely at this stage of our development as a mature State, it should be possible for all workers to claim expenses for only genuine vouched expenses. This includes civil servants and public service workers and of course all our public representatives in the Oireachtas and Local Authorities.
    There would be a massive saving of public expenditure that could be given to those most in need.
    Are those in authority brave enough to make such a decision.?

    26
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    Mute Fr. Fintan Stack
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    Nov 21st 2018, 2:18 AM

    @Irish big fellow: So a private sector electrician would be entitled to expenses . But a public service one wouldn’t?

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    Mute ⚡ Seánie ⚡
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    Nov 20th 2018, 8:10 PM

    How does one go about claiming back for tools and uniform????????????

    26
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    Mute Donncha
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    Nov 20th 2018, 8:15 PM

    @Seánie: You don’t claim back. You just get extra tax credits if you have certain jobs, meaning you pay a little less tax. You can check to see if Flat Rate Expenses is on your tax credit cert.

    26
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    Mute David Daly
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    Nov 20th 2018, 8:23 PM

    @⚡ Seánie ⚡: go to revenue website log in and look up flat rate expenses, it’s not a lot you can get. It’s a set amount, if you spent 600 on tools in a year you can still only claim 152 for sparks allowances. None of the other trades matter so they get nothing

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    Mute ⚡ Seánie ⚡
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    Nov 20th 2018, 8:38 PM

    @David Daly: Cheers. I’ll look into it. Every bit helps.

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    Mute John Meade
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    Nov 20th 2018, 9:42 PM

    @⚡ Seánie ⚡: can backdate for 4 years too

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    Mute Stephen Duffy
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    Nov 20th 2018, 8:44 PM

    Interesting to hear Leo’s response to Mary-Lou’s questioning on this matter in the Dáil today. Leo accused Mary-Lou of hypocrisy because she was in New York at a $400 a plate dinner. He accused her of rubbing shoulders with the “super wealthy”… Honestly on what planet is paying $400 for a meal at a political fund-raised the domain of the “super wealthy” Honestly I’d id pay $400 to attend a meal for a cause (political or charitable) I believed in…

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    Mute Keith
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    Nov 20th 2018, 8:13 PM

    Leo the king of spinning & for wasting more money on photo oops on his twitter acct with his stupid socks .fine Gael biggest spenders of tax payers money .

    83
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    Mute Mick Cullen
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    Nov 20th 2018, 8:42 PM

    How much does the lackeys in leinster house lose with this hit on the poor

    32
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    Mute Don
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    Nov 20th 2018, 11:37 PM

    This seems really mean hearted but it should be offset by other tax cuts promised for workers. The middle income class are paying for just about everything and get very little back in tax breaks. The very least that the government should do is put away a taxpayer’s USC contribution into a personal pension fund. Especially so for those workers that dont have any other employer pension contributions. Australia puts 9% of workers pay into personal pensions. Ireland is backward and is elitist in this regard.

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    Mute Liam Byrne
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    Nov 20th 2018, 9:08 PM

    Well, if they’re modest, they won’t be missed too much.

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