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Israel strikes Gaza, calls up reservists, ready to ‘expand’ operation
The
IDF announces a widespread campaign on “terror targets” and
begins bombing the Gaza Strip, preparing for a ground operation. This
comes after the head of Hamas’ military wing Ahmed Jabari was
killed in an Israeli airstrike
RT,
14
November, 2012
The
operation, called “Pillar of Defense”, has been launched by the
Israel military. Many of the buildings in downtown Gaza City are on
fire after being attacked by Israeli warplanes, RT’s Arabic
correspondent Saed Swerky reports on Twitter.
The
IDF says all options are on the table in Gaza, including a ground
operation. Israeli warships have struck "terror
sites" in
the Gaza Strip, the military forces confirmed.
“Today
we sent a clear message to Hamas and other terrorist organizations,
and if it becomes necessary we are prepared to expand the
operation,” Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a televised address on
Wednesday.
The
country’s Defense Minister Ehud Barak declared a special situation
in all Israeli territory, covering the area up to a radius of 40
kilometers around the Gaza Strip, the Jerusalem Post said.
The
minister said that Israel is just at the start of the action, but in
the long term, the operation will restore peace.
Israel
has started emergency call up of reservists, while saying they are
preparing for a ground invasion of Gaza, RT`s Tom Barton reports from
Israel.
The
strikes caused extensive damage to the long-range missile
capabilities and underground weapons storage facilities, the IDF said
on Twitter.
The
Gaza Education Ministry has announced a suspension of study at Gaza
schools and universities due to heavy fire by Israel.
A
large explosion occurred near home of Hamas leader, Mahmoud Zahar, Al
Arabiya reported.
The
death toll from some 20 strikes has risen to 10, two of them
children, with at least 45 wounded, Gaza`s health minister said.
Jabari
was traveling in his vehicle in Gaza City when his car was struck, AP
reports, citing witnesses. Reports say Jabari, his son and three
other people were killed in the strike.
Smoke rises after an Israeli air strike in the northern Gaza Strip November 14, 2012. (Reuters / Amir Cohen )
An
Israeli strike also targeted Raad Atar, another senior Hamas military
wing commander, but he survived, Israeli Ynet reports.
The
assassination has "opened
the gates of hell," the
Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, were quoted by
AFP as saying. The militants vowed to "continue
the path of resistance."
The
IDF stated on its website that it has launched a "widespread
campaign on terror sites and operatives in the Gaza Strip" and
Jabari was its first target. He's the highest ranking Hamas
official to be killed since 2009, when Israel conducted ground
offensive against Gaza.
“The
purpose of this operation was to severely impair the command and
control chain of the Hamas leadership, as well as its terrorist
infrastructure. This was a surgical operation in cooperation with the
Israeli Security Agency, that was implemented on the basis of
concrete intelligence and using advanced capabilities,” the
statement said.
The
crackdown follows the recent escalation of violence in the region.
The conflict broke out last week when Palestinian militants attacked
at an Israeli military jeep.
Israel
responded with retaliatory attacks, to which the Gaza Strip replied
with heavy rocket fire at southern Israel.
Jabari
is the most senior Hamas official to be killed since Operation Cast
Lead in Gaza four years ago. He is believed to be behind the
notorious abduction and detention of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit,
who was held hostage for more than four years until being released
last year as part of a hostage sw
Smoke rises following Israeli air strikes in Gaza City November 14, 2012. (Reuters / Suhaib Salem)
Palestinians extinguish fire from the car of Ahmaed Jaabari, head of the military wing of the Hamas movement, the Ezzedin Qassam Brigades, after it was hit by an Israeli air strike in Gaza City on November 14, 2012. (AFP Photo / Mahmud Hams)
Palestinians extinguish fire from the car of Ahmaed Jaabari, head of the military wing of the Hamas movement, the Ezzedin Qassam Brigades, after it was hit by an Israeli air strike in Gaza City on November 14, 2012. (AFP Photo / Mahmud Hams)
From al-Jazeera
Hamas
military chief killed in Israeli attack
Israel
pounds the Gaza Strip in a series of air strikes that kill Hamas
military commander Ahmad Jabari and six others.
Shortly
afterwards, Israel pounded the Gaza Strip with another 20 air
strikes, killing five more people, two of them children, Hamas health
minister Mufid Mukhalalati said in a televised press conference at
Gaza City's Shifa hospital.
He
said another 30 people had been injured in the wave of strikes on
targets across the territory which hit Gaza City, the northern town
of Beit Lahiya and the southern city of Khan Yunis.
"The
Israeli occupation has carried out more than 20 air strikes on
targets and headquarters of the police and security in the Gaza
Strip," interior ministry spokesman Islam Shahwan said.
The
attacks on Wednesday marked the biggest escalation between Israel and
Gaza fighters since the 2008-2009 conflict and came despite signs on
Tuesday that neighbouring Egypt had managed to broker a truce in the
territory after a five-day surge of violence.
Israel's
military confirmed the operation, saying: "Jabari "was a
senior Hamas operative... directly responsible for executing terror
attacks against the State of Israel in the past number of years.
"The
purpose of this operation was to severely impair the command and
control chain of the Hamas leadership, as well as its terrorist
infrastructure," it said in a statement.
'Start
of operation'
Israel
sent a "clear message" to Hamas through the killing of its
top military commander and is ready to "expand" its
operation in Gaza if necessary, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin
Netanyahu said.
"Today
we sent a clear message to Hamas and other terrorist organisations,
and if it becomes necessary we are prepared to expand the operation,"
he said in a televised address.
Military
spokeswoman Avital Leibovich said the strike was the start of an
operation targeting armed groups in Gaza following multiple rocket
attacks on southern Israel.
Leibovich
confirmed to Al Jazeera that Jabari was targeted specifically.
"The
first target we targeted was Ahmad Jabari. A short time ago we
completed another phase in the operation which included 20 different
targets of rocket launcher pads," she said.
"Israel
is exercising its right to protect itself, and Jabari has a lot of
Israeli blood on his hands."
She
went on to say that "there are 1.5 million people in Gaza, and
even though we were targeted on a daily basis, we still helped Gazans
in our hospitals because we are humanitarian people."
Asked
whether Israel was ready to initiate a ground operation in Gaza,
Leibovich said: "All options are on the table for us. We will do
whatever necessary to protect the people of Israel."
Responding
to the killing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades said its fighters
would "continue the path of resistance".
"The
occupation has opened the gates of hell on itself," it said in a
statement.
Al
Jazeera's Nadim Baba, reporting from Gaza, said Israeli strikes were
still going on into Wednesday evening.
"We
have been hearing of strikes in different areas of the Gaza Strip,"
he said. "For the civilian population here it is a very worrying
time. People have deserted the streets, and it is very quiet and very
tense."
He
added that eye witnesses have reported seeing the Israeli navy off
the coast of Gaza, further increasing their concerns.
Calls
for revenge
Jabari
co-ordinated much of Hamas's military capability, its military
strategy, and the transformation of the military wing.
He
also led the final negotiations in Cairo that concluded the prisoner
swap between Hamas and Israel in 2011.
The
killing of Jabari sparked furious protests in Gaza City, with
hundreds of members of Hamas and the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades
chanting for revenge inside Shifa hospital.
Outside,
armed men fired weapons into the air, and mosques throughout the city
called prayers to mourn the commander's death.
Osama
Hamdan, a Hamas representative talking to Al Jazeera in Doha, said:
"we will respond [to the assassination], this I have to say
clearly."
"The
Israelis are working to target the local leaders and political
leaders in Gaza. We are expecting acts and reactions from the
Palestinians."
Saeb
Erekat, a Palestinian negotiator based in the West Bank, condemned
the killing.
"We
are witnessing a major escalation against our people in Gaza, and it
seems to me the Israeli agenda is war, not truce or a ceasefire,"
he told Al Jazeera. We hold the Israeli government responsible."
Air
strikes
Al
Jazeera’s Rula Amin, reporting from Beirut, Lebanon, said Jabari
had been a target for Israel for a long time.
"This
is a big loss for Hamas, and a success for Israel, who have been
after him for a while." she said.
“We
will see an escalation for sure within the immediate future.”
“People
in Gaza know him. He was considered very smart, very shrewd,
considered to be a hero because he had managed until now to escape
numerous assassination attempts by Israel.”
“People
will be bracing for more violence, not just against Hamas but against
the civilians too.”
Wednesday's
attacks come after several days worth of Israeli air strikes on the
Gaza Strip, leaving at least seven Palestinians dead and several more
wounded.
The
strikes started after Palestinians fired an anti-tank missile at an
Israeli jeep on Saturday, wounding four soldiers. More than 120
rockets have hit Israel in recent days, lightly injuring another
four.
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