JERUSALEM – Gazan terrorists continued to fire rockets at Israeli civilian targets throughout the night.
Since midnight, 8 rockets have been fired at Israel by Hamas terrorists and the IDF has hit 54 terror targets in the Gaza Strip. In the past 24 hours, more than 105 rockets were launched from Gaza towards Israel. In response to the continued rocket fire, the IDF struck 326 targets across the Gaza Strip including concealed rocket launchers, terror tunnels, training bases, military compounds, weapons storage and manufacturing facilities, and additional sites utilized as control centers by senior Hamas terrorists.
For the second night in a row, Hamas tried to send terrorists into Kibbutz Zikim, via the sea. The terrorists were again spotted by the IDF. Both terrorists were killed. No IDF soldiers were injured in the attack.
The IDF is currently focusing its efforts on destroying the terror infrastructure in Gaza from the air and targeting terrorist leaders and commanders. The IAF targeted the homes of several Hamas commanders yesterday who used their homes as terror command centers. Early this morning, the IDF targeted three Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists who were involved in the manufacturing of medium-range rockets. Accurate hits were registered. Hamas has resorted again to using human shields to protect their infrastructure. The population seems to be gladly cooperating with them, and this has caused the IDF to abort missions. This further boosts the number of civilian casualties in Gaza. The IDf has stated it is doing its outmost to avoid such assurances.
Reports of a possible IDF incursion into Gaza are intensifying. Israel is deploying a third infantry brigade alongside two others already on the border and is continuing to call up more reserves, army spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Lerner said in a briefing.
Since the start of Operation ‘Protective Edge’, over 360 rockets have been fired towards Israel and the IDF has targeted approximately 780 targets, with both naval and aerial capabilities.