Israel Defense Force Goes On Offensive in Gaza; Terrorists Killed As IAF Strikes Police Compounds
Just days after the Israel cabinet gave the IDF final approval to counter ongoing Palestinian rocket fire against towns and cities in the western Negev, the IDF launched a massive operation, striking Hamas installations throughout the Gaza Strip on Saturday.
Ashkelon residents react after a rocket fired by Palestinian terrorists hit the southern city.
Hamas's police spokesperson said that at least 40 people were killed in the initial attacks. Gaza health official Moawiya Hassanain later said that over 120 people were killed, and at least 200 injured.
According to witnesses, among the killed was Gaza Hamas police chief Tawfik Jaber.
Minutes after the first wave of airstrikes hit areas in the southern Gaza Strip, Palestinians reported a second wave which targeted installations in the center and the north of the Strip.
In response to news of a military operation, Magen David Adom announced that they were putting their staff on highest alert, and deploying over 200 ambulances throughout the country in the case of a Hamas counterattack. Further, the Home Front Command ordered residents in Sderot and the Gaza periphery to stack within reinforced saferooms as much as they can for the time being.
Shortly after the strikes began, Egypt was quoted by Al-Jazeera as condemning the Israeli action, calling it "an unprecedented massacre." Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas also condemned the operation, and issued a call for restraint, according to his aide, Nabil Abu Rdeneh.
Earlier, a Kassam fired from Gaza hit a building on a Sha'ar Hanegev kibbutz.
Damage was caused to the building, but no casualties were reported in the attack.
On Friday, two Palestinian girls were killed when a rocket fired by Palestinian terrorists landed short of its Israeli target.
According to witnesses, the girls were immediately killed after sustaining a direct hit. Gaza Health Ministry official Dr. Moiaya Hassanain identified the two victims as 5-year-old Hanin Abu Khoussa and her 12-year-old cousin, Sabah Abu Khoussa. Three other young people were wounded, Hassanain said.
Hamas announced that it planned to investigate the incident which occurred in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahiya.
Also Friday, Israel agreed to treat a 35-year-old Palestinian who was also wounded by a rocket fired from Gaza towards Israel.
The man was evacuated to Tel Aviv's Ichilov Hospital in serious condition after being transferred from a Palestinian ambulance to a Magen David Adom ambulance at the Erez Crossing. The man was wounded in a Kassam attack on Tuesday, and was since then treated in a Gazan hospital before medical officials decided to move him to Israel for treatment.
Twenty-five mortar shells have been fired into Israel from Gaza since Thursday night.
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