Muhammad Abu-Jalal |

Gazan motorcyclists drag suspected Israeli spy through streets

A short while ago, a ceasefire agreement regarding the fighting in the south, came into effect. Following eight days of operations, the IDF has accomplished its pre-determined objectives for Operation Pillar of Defense, and has inflicted severe damage to Hamas and its military capabilities.

As a result of IDF operations, the command and control apparatus of Hamas was significantly struck, beginning with the targeting of the commander of the military wing of Hamas, Ahmed Jabri, continuing with the targeting of broad terrorist infrastructure, facilities and military bases, as well as the destruction of dozens of smuggling and explosive tunnels.

During the operation, the IDF damaged and destroyed significant elements of Hamas’ strategic capabilities, among them. Amongst those capabilities were long-range (over 40 km) and hundreds of short- and medium-range rocket launchers. These actions have severely impaired Hamas’ launching capabilities, resulting in a decreasing number of rockets being fired from the Gaza Strip. The ‘Iron Dome’ defense system has accomplished high rate of successful interceptions (84%) and Hamas’ accuracy with regards to hitting populated areas within Israel remained below 7%.

IDF soldiers, in regular and reserve military service, gathered in assembly areas and prepared for the ground operation. Their time was used for training and improving their operational capabilities.

These operational achievements provided the underlying framework for this evening’s ceasefire agreement.

At this time, Israeli residents are requested to continue to pay attention to Home Front Command’s instructions.

Over the course of Operation Pillar of Defense, the IDF targeted over 1,500 terror sites including 19 senior command centers, operational control centers and Hamas’ senior-rank headquarters, 30senior operatives, damaging Hamas’ command and control, hundreds of underground rocket launchers, 140 smuggling tunnels, 66 terror tunnels, dozens of Hamas operation rooms and bases,26 weapon manufacturing and storage facilities and dozens of long-range rocket launchers and launch sites.

Senior Operatives Targeted:

Ahmed Jabari, head of Hamas’ military wing – targeted on November 14

Hab’s Hassan Us Msamch, senior operative in Hamas’ police – targeted on November 15

Ahmed Abu Jalal, Commander of the military wing in Al-Muazi – targeted on November 16

Khaled Shaer, senior operative in the anti-tank operations – targeted on November 16

Osama Kadi, senior operative in the smuggling operations in the southern Gaza Strip – targeted on November 17

Muhammad Kalb, senior operative in the aerial defense operations – targated on November 17

Ramz Harb, Islamic Jihad senior operative in propaganda in Gaza city – targeted on November 19

Number of Rocket Launches Toward Israel During the Operation:

November 14: 75 rockets

November 15: 316 rockets

November 16: 228 rockets

November 17: 237 rockets

November 18: 156 rockets

November 19: 143 rockets

November 20: 221 rockets

November 21 (Until 21:00): 130 rockets

Rocket Launched Towards Israel:

Total number of rockets launched from the Gaza Strip: 1,506 rockets

Number of rockets hit open areas: 875 rockets

Number of rockets hit urban areas: 58 rockets

“Iron Dome” interceptions: 421 rockets

Failed launching attempts: 152 rockets

Israeli Casualties:

Fatalities: 6

Injuries: 240

On Nov. 21, 2012, a bomb exploded on a bus in Tel Aviv. Soon after, Hamas TV broadcast its delight at the news that civilians in Israel were targeted. Click here to watch the video.

Speaker of Iran’s Majlis (Parliament) Ali Larijani has extolled the missile power of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, saying it can easily overwhelm Israel’s Iron Dome missile shield. “They [the Palestinians] are all children of the [late founder of the Islamic Republic] Great Imam Khomeini.”

Iranian Press TV correspondent Akram al-Sattari has been injured in an Israeli airstrike on a hotel in the Gaza Strip.

Utter Madness! Hamas fires on humanitarian aid convey heading into Gaza from Israel. Twenty four trucks out of 120 safely pass through Kerem Shalom crossing.

Utter Madness! “Iran, Syria and Hezbollah will not give up on the people of Gaza and its resistance, and this is our religious and moral and humanitarian obligation” – Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Be’er Sheva, Israel. A child’s bedroom hit by a rocket from Gaza.

Hamas stands behind its children

“Seven years ago, Israel withdrew from every square inch of Gaza . Now, Hamas took over the areas we vacated. What did it do? Rather than build a better future for the residents of Gaza , the Hamas leadership, backed by Iran , turned Gaza into a terrorist stronghold. They fired thousand of rockets at our cities, at our towns, at our civilians, at our children. They’ve smuggled thousands of rockets and missiles into Gaza , and they deliberately place these rockets and missiles in civilian areas: in homes, in schools, near hospitals. This year alone, they fired over one thousand rockets and missiles at Israel…” – Prime Minister of Israel.

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IDF has struck over 1000 targets within the Gaza Strip Targets including Hamas’ operational communications. IDF also reopened Kerem Shalom crossing to allow transfer of humanitarian aid. Click here to watch this video.

As reported from IDF sources (GMT +2):

Wednesday, November 21, 2012.

8:56 p.m. A short while ago, the IDF targeted a terror squad that was preparing to launch rockets at Israel. In addition, the IDF targeted Hamas scouting positions.

8:33 p.m. A short while ago, the IDF targeted 3 terror tunnels in the southern Gaza Strip and 2 underground rocket launchers in the north.

6:30 p.m. 4 IDF soldiers were wounded in the Eshkol Regional Council, details forthcoming.

6:20 p.m. Over the course of the day, IDF targeted over 50 terror sites, including underground rocket launchers, smuggling tunnels and terror tunnels. Several buildings that belong to senior Hamas operatives and serve as command and control centers were also targeted.

Additionally, a number of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror squads that were involved in promoting terror activity, such as launching rockets at Israel, were targeted.

Armored and Artillery Forces fired towards open areas in the Gaza Strip.

This morning, Erez Crossing was opened for the crossing of diplomats, and medical supplies, which usually pass through Kerem Shalom, were transferred to the residents of the Gaza Strip via the Crossing. The Kerem Shalom Crossing was closed yesterday, due to rockets fire.

The Gaza Strip has been turned into a forward base for Iran, forcing Israeli citizens to live under unbearable circumstances.

The sites that were targeted were positively identified by precise intelligence over the course of several months.

The IDF is determined to continue targeting sites that are used to carry out terror attacks against the State of Israel and its citizens.

2:55 p.m. A short while ago, the IDF struck targets in the northern Gaza Strip, targeting an underground rocket launcher and five terror operatives who were preparing to launch rockets at Israel.

Over the course of the day, 42 rockets fired from the Gaza Strip have struck Israel. In addition, the Iron Dome has intercepted 20 rockets.

2:00 p.m. A short while ago, the IDF targeted three Hamas terror operatives in the southern Gaza Strip, who were preparing to launch rockets at Israel.

11:35 a.m. This morning, the IDF targeted 43 terror tunnels throughout the Gaza Strip and an underground rocket launcher in the northern Gaza Strip. An additional terror operative was targeted by the Israeli Navy in the southern Gaza Strip.

10:49 a.m. Earlier today, the IDF targeted an underground rocket launcher and a Hamas terror operative who intended to fire rockets in Israel, in the northern Gaza Strip.

9:06 a.m. Earlier this morning, IDF forces targeted several hideouts used by Hamas operatives to manufacture rockets. A direct hit was confirmed

7:14 a.m. Overnight, the IDF targeted over 100 terror sites, including dozens of terror infrastructure sites throughout the Gaza Strip.

The targets included the Ministry of Internal Security – which served as one of the main command and control centers for the Hamas terror organization – as well as an important police compound and a military hideout used as both a meeting place for senior operatives and a communications center. Additionally, Israeli Navy soldiers targeted a rocket launching site, a Hamas post, and a structure used for Hamas’ terror activity.

In a joint IDF-ISA mission, the IDF targeted, in a pinpoint strike, a Hamas intelligence operations center, which was deliberately located in a media building in the Gaza Strip. In addition, IAF aircraft targeted a senior Hamas operative in the aerial defense operations, several terrorist squads, and a terrorist who was identified at the launching site from which a rocket was fired towards Jerusalem yesterday.

Furthermore, the IDF targeted approximately 50 underground rocket launchers, terror tunnels, three weapons storage facilities, and a weapons manufacturing site. The IDF also targeted a system of tunnels used to transport fuel to Hamas, as Hamas had used the transported fuel to support its terror activities.

The IDF is determined to continue targeting sites that are used to carry out terror attacks against the State of Israel and its citizens.

4:53 a.m. Since midnight today, the Iron Dome Active Defense System has intercepted two rockets fired from Gaza toward populated areas in Israel.

Over 800 rockets fired from Gaza hit Israel in a week, 162 over the past day alone.

The IDF targeted the house of Azi Abudama, the commander of the central Gaza Hamas training bases.

IDF warns reporters in Gaza to stay away from Hamas operatives and facilities. Hamas, a terrorist group, will use you as human shields.

00:33 a.m. Minutes ago, the IDF surgically targeted a Hamas intelligence operations centre on the seventh floor of the “Neema” media building in the Gaza Strip. A direct hit was confirmed.

(Photo credits: timeline photos | gatewaypundit.com | ivarfjeld.wordpress.com | News content IDF)