Presenter, Male #1
Our Al Jazeera correspondent in Gaza said a rocket launched from the Gaza Strip caused an explosion in Tel Aviv. Earlier, the Israeli army said a rocket fell on Rishon Lezion, a southern suburb of Tel Aviv. This is the first time rockets launched from Gaza hit a Tel Aviv suburb. Three Israeli soldiers were injured after a shell fell in the western Negev. Israeli police confirmed that three people were killed in the southern town of Kiryat Malakhi due to rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip.

Presenter, Male #1
This comes as the number of martyrs rose to 15 due to Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip. A child and an elderly person were killed today after sustaining injuries caused by two air strikes on the southern city of Khan Younis, and on the northern town of Beit Lahiya. This afternoon, masses of Gaza's residents participated in the funeral of Ahmed al-Jaabari, the chief of staff of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam brigades, the military wing of the Hamas movement. He was assassinated in the first few Israeli air strikes on Wednesday.

Reporter, Female #1
The ongoing Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip did not prevent the Palestinians from participating in the funeral procession for Ahmed al-Jaabari, the chief of staff of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam brigades, the military wing of the Hamas movement. He was martyred yesterday with his companion in an Israeli strike that targeted his car.

Reporter, Female #1
The chants of the mourners centered on supporting the resistance, and demanded a strong response against the Israeli aggressions. Al-Jaabari's assassination ignited Palestinian anger against Israel that has started a wide-scale military campaign and escalated the situation on the ground in the Gaza Strip. However, it placed the Palestinian factions on the same front of the confrontation.

Reporter, Female #1
The Palestinian factions' response to the Israeli army's operations in the Strip was quick. The resistance launched Grad missiles and other locally-produced missiles on Israeli targets. The resistance vowed more missiles will be launched until Israel stops its operations against the Strip. The political position of the Palestinian factions was support for and confirmation of national consensus over the actions of the resistance.

Guest, Male #2
The factions held a meeting late last night, and agreed on a number of issues, including forming a shared operations room to coordinate their work on the ground, and politically, and on all other levels.

Guest, Male #3
Through our resistance, our patience and our determination, we will settle this war and this combat with the Israeli occupation in the coming days. The Qassam Brigades are more resolved and more determined than ever to move forward on al-Jaabari's path.

Reporter, Female #2
The atmosphere of a possible escalating war in the cities of the Strip reminded Palestinians in Gaza of their memories of previous Israeli wars. However, observers believe the developments in the next few days will depend on Israel's continued aggression, and the extent of the Palestinian factions' response deep into Israel. These conditions mean the citizens in Gaza will stay on edge as they wait and see what happens, despite their commitment to resist. Hiba Akila, Al Jazeera, from the city of Gaza.

Warfare in southern Israel has been intense since Israel launched Operation Pillar of Defense, with the killing of Hamas military chief Ahmed al-Jaabari. Over the past 24 hours, more than 200 rockets have been fired from Gaza into Israel by Palestinian terrorist groups. In Kiryat Malakhi, a direct hit by a Grad rocket on an apartment building killed Israeli civilians, including two women and a man, who were trying to make their way into a fortified stairwell when the missile hit. Social services came to the area to quickly repair the building and try to get the area back to normal. Rockets also targeted Ashdod, Ashkelon, Ofakim, Beersheva, Gan Yavne, and the Eshkol Regional Council, where three soldiers were injured by shrapnel. Defense Ministry Spokesman John Hartman says that schools around the Gaza region are closed, and 15 percent of Israel's population is under fire, which is close to one million civilians.

In Gaza, the Israeli Air Force carried out some 200 air strikes, and tanks and naval gunboats have taken part in a combined operation, hitting more than 100 military targets. So far Palestinians have reported 15 dead and dozens wounded, with IBA reporting that most of the Palestinian casualties have been terrorist combatants. IDF Spokeswoman Avital Leibovitch says that "all the options are on the table, including the possibility of a ground operation," and some reserve units have been alerted.

Presenter, Male #1
Successive Arab and international reactions denounced the Zionist aggressions waged by the Israeli war machine on the Gaza Strip that led to the martyrdom of 13 people and injured 148 others over the past 24 hours.

Reporter, Male #2
The Israeli military's attacks on the Gaza Strip generated Arab and Western reactions. Arab nations unanimously denounced Israel, and held it completely responsible for this escalation.

Reporter, Male #2
The Gulf Cooperation Council's ministerial council demanded the international community and the Quartet to condemn the Israeli aggressions on the Gaza Strip that have killed and injured many, and led to the destruction of homes and properties.

Reporter, Male #2
Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Libya, and Tunisia said Israel's aggressive policy will once again put the region in a spiral of violence and instability. As for Khaled Meshaal, the head of the Hamas political bureau, he said that the Israeli aggression on Gaza is as a test for the leaders of the Arab world. He called on Islamic and Arab leaders to change the rules of the game with Israel.

Guest, Male #3 (Khaled Meshaal, Head of Hamas Political Bureau)
This enemy didn't defeat Gaza, and didn't defeat the Jenin camp, and didn't defeat southern Lebanon. This enemy is weak, so weak. He was weak before the Arab Spring, but today he is trembling and confused. Today, the leaders of the nation, during their beautiful spring, must focus on their internal national issues, but they must not forget the region. They must not forget the causes of the nation: Palestine, Jerusalem, the right of return, the prisoners of Palestine and the prisoners of the nation in the jails of oppression, the holy land in Palestine, confronting the Zionist project that follows Arabs and Muslims in all their lands.

Reporter, Male #2
In a series of Western reactions, London and Paris gave Israel the right to defend itself against Hamas. British Foreign Minister William Hague viewed the attacks of the Palestinian factions as the main motivator for Israel's aggression. He called on the Israeli government to try to avoid civilian casualties.

Reporter, Male #2
As for French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, he described the actions of the Zionist occupation forces against the civilians in Gaza as self-defense. At the same time, he expressed concern over the increasing tension between the two sides. On the other hand, Moscow's stance was completely different, as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed deep concern over the escalation of violence in the Gaza Strip. He confirmed the Israeli attacks on Gaza are considered a disproportionate response to the firing of rockets by Palestinian factions. He indicated that the violence could destabilize the entire region.

Presenter, Male #1
Egyptian political forces are organizing demonstrations and marches after tomorrow's Friday prayers from all the republic's mosques to denounce the latest Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip. On Thursday afternoon, a demonstration took off from in front of Omar al-Mukarram Mosque in Tahrir Square. It demanded further escalation against Israel, and endorsed Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi's decision to recall the Egyptian ambassador from Tel Aviv. It also handed a strongly-worded letter of protest to the Israeli ambassador in Cairo. Unprecedented slogans were heard during the protest, as demonstrators chanted for opening the door to jihad, or struggle, and demanded to forcefully end the Israeli siege on the Strip. Nabil Attia reports from Cairo.

Reporter, Male #2
Supplications and funeral prayers were held for the victims of the Israeli raids on the Gaza Strip. They are part of actions launched from the Omar al-Mukarram Mosque in the heart of Tahrir Square.

Guest, Male #3 (Muath Abd al-Karim, Revolution Youth Coalition)
In reality, the reaction that was adopted so far is a diplomatic response. I think Egypt must show its soft power to convince the Israelis to stop these childish acts that are only happening so they can score political points before the elections.

Reporter, Male #2
This popular mobilization comes after the Egyptian authorities' series of escalations. At the forefront is President Mohamed Morsi's decision to withdraw the Egyptian ambassador from Tel Aviv, and to deliver a strongly-worded letter of protest to the Israeli ambassador in Cairo.

Guest, Male #4 (Ahmed Subei, Freedom and Justice Party Media Advisor)
We think it is President Mohamed Morsi's first step before more action can be taken to support the Palestinian people's right to life. What happened yesterday in the Gaza Strip is an ongoing Zionist crime. Zionists and Israel must know that the days of submission are over, and no longer have a place in Egypt. The Egyptian people took to the streets in 2008 and 2009 against the Zionist aggression on the Gaza Strip, at a time they were living under an authoritarian regime that was preventing this popular mobilization. But today, the people, and state officials, and the country's president are in harmony.

Reporter, Male #2
The demonstration that was called for by some political and revolutionary movements took off from Tahrir Square and headed toward the Arab League to present its demands.

Guest, Male #5 (Dr. Salah Sultan, Secretary-General for the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs)
I demand the Arab League to activate the joint defense agreement, and to encourage the youth and men to join the ranks of the battalions, and the ranks of the army. From in front of the Arab League, I call on all Arab armies to prepare for the battle of liberation.

Reporter, Male #2
The Arab League will hold an urgent ministerial meeting in Cairo on Saturday to discuss ways to respond to the Israeli escalation against the Gaza Strip, and, perhaps, to look into a response to some of the popular demands of the demonstrators. Attia Nabil, BBC, Cairo.

Press TV reports that the Palestinian prime minister in Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh, has called for unity, resistance, and steadfastness of Palestinians against the latest Israeli aggressions. Haniyeh paid tribute to the late military commander Ahmed al-Jaabari, who was killed in an Israeli air strike on Wednesday, saying that al-Jaabari's assassination will be avenged, and that the Hamas movement is entering a new era. He also hailed Egypt for its support in the decision to withdraw its ambassador from Tel Aviv.

The leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah movement, Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah, said the fresh Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip has once again shown the "true face" of the US and its allies. He said that since the US and other countries supported Israel's right to self-defense, the people of Gaza became the attackers, despite the dire humanitarian situation in the Strip.

Press TV reports that an Asian satellite provider has stopped providing services to Iranian channels, including Press TV. Nearly 37 percent of AsiaSat's shares are owned by the American company General Electric. The network called AsiaSat about the development, but its corporate affairs manager, Winnie Pang, declined to comment. This move comes after two European satellite providers, Intelsat and Eutelsat SA, took 19 Iranian channels off the air in October under pressure from the European Union.

Presenter, Male #1
The Jordanian city of Irbid witnessed riots and protests last night as gunmen attacked a police station in the city, leading to the killing of one of the assailants, and the injury of 11 policemen, according to the official Jordanian news agency Petra.

Presenter, Male #1
According to a statement by the police, another policeman was seriously injured in the area of Shafa Badran, near the capital Amman, after gunmen fired at him with machine guns. Protests broke out Tuesday night after the government raised the price of oil derivatives to tackle the budget deficit.

Presenter, Male #1
Joining us over the phone from the Jordanian capital Amman is our correspondent Salwa al-Sawalka. Salwa, what's the situation like in Amman and in other Jordanian cities right now?

Reporter, Female #1
Yes Paul, calm has been reigning in different parts of the kingdom now. Last night there were a few demonstrations and protests against the decision to raise prices, as you mentioned. But the protests ended peacefully, even if there was occasional friction between security forces and some protestors who are breaking the law with their chants and slogans, according to the public security. Public security issued a statement about the events that occurred in a few areas of the kingdom. It said that a security center came under fire by gunmen in Misran, one of Irbid's villages in northern Jordan. It caused the killing of one of the gunmen and the injury of 12 members of the security forces that were present in the center.

Reporter, Female #1
According to another security statement, one of the gendarmes is currently in critical condition at a hospital after getting shot in the head in the area of Shafa Badran from Amman. Various popular groups and unions issued a statement demanding the government reverse the decision to increase the prices, because, as the say, it will place a significant financial burden on the citizens. There are also some protests in different cities that are demanding a retreat from the decision to raise prices.

Reporter, Female #1
However, the government is saying that liberalizing the price of oil derivatives is inevitable, because the budget deficit is very large, and the treasury cannot withstand it. Also according to the government, there is going to be a mechanism to compensate poor and middle class citizens. This compensation will be in the form of direct cash payments to those eligible. It will be paid in three installments, as in one payment every four months.

Presenter, Male #1
From Amman, our correspondent Salwa al-Sawalka, thank you.

Presenter, Male #1
Today in Syria, 86 people have been killed so far as violent clashes are taking place between the Free Army and al-Assad's brigades in al-Bukamal, where the Free Syrian Army was able to down a warplane.

Reporter, Male #2
The barbaric death machine that the Syrian regime is using to confront its people, who are only guilty of demanding freedom, remains clearly reflected in the number of missiles targeting all Syrian governorates, and that have claimed the lives of over 39,000 people since the beginning of the Syrian revolution 20 months ago. The violent shelling with heavy artillery and tanks on the neighborhoods of southern Damascus was visible amid violent clashes between the Free Army and the regime's army. Meanwhile, al-Assad's brigades waged a campaign of raids and arrests in the neighborhoods of Rukn al-Din, Qabr Atiqa and Bab Sraija.

Reporter, Male #2
In the countryside of Damascus, warplanes and artillery shelling hit the cities of Saqba, Hamriya, and most cities in al-Ghouta al-Sharqiyah. Heavy artillery shelling was renewed on the cities of Zamalka, Arbin, Douma, and the towns of Beyela and al-Sabina. The countryside of Idlib witnessed violent shelling with heavy artillery and rocket launchers, especially in the city of Maarat al-Numaan, where a number of deaths and injuries were reported.

Reporter, Male #2
In Homs, the symbol of resistance, heavy artillery shelling was renewed on its besieged neighborhoods amid violent clashes in the neighborhood of Deir Baalba, between the Free Army and the regime's army that rained its heavy machine guns on the neighborhood of Mo'ar. Heavy artillery and mortar shelling was also renewed on the city of al-Rastan and the town of al-Ghanto. The scene was the same in Aleppo where artillery shelling was renewed on the neighborhood of al-Layramoun amid violent clashes near a security building between the Free Army and the regime's army. The provinces of Daraa and Deir az-Zour were also scenes of the Assad army's crimes, which pounded the cities and towns of these provinces with all kinds of weapons, especially the city of Inkhil and the town of al-Karak al-Sharqi in Daraa, and the neighborhood of al-Sheikh Yassin in Deir az-Zour that was targeted with rocket launchers.

Reporter, Male #2
As for the countryside of Deir az-Zour, violent clashes erupted, especially in the city of al-Bukamal in the surroundings of the security square between al-Assad's army and the Free Army that liberated a number of security headquarters in the city. Heavy warplane shelling targeted the towns of Rif al-Tabaqa al-Gharby in the province of al-Riqqa amid violent clashes in the town of Dibsi Aafnane, while helicopters dropped barrel bombs on the villages of Dobrikiyeh, Said Salma, Rabia in Latakia. The regime's army also burned homes in the village of al-Msheirfa.

Presenter, Female #1
American President Barack Obama refused to recognize the unified Syrian opposition as the sole legitimate representative of the Syrian people, or even as a transitional government in exile. In his first press conference since getting reelected as president, Obama welcomed the opposition's formation as a diverse and representative group. However, he warned that the United States is still not ready to recognize it as a government in exile, saying, "We consider them a legitimate representative of the aspirations of the Syrian people."

Presenter, Male #1
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius announced that his country will ask the European Union to lift the embargo on sending defensive arms to Syria, in order to send these types of weapons to opposition fighters. Fabius said his country will conduct talks with UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi and with Russia because they want to reach a solution. He said that President Francois Hollande will receive officials of the new Syrian opposition coalition on Saturday, including Sheikh Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib, the new president of the Syrian National Council, and George Sabra.

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