During Shabbos in Israel, more than 60 IAF aircraft assisted in an offensive attack against Hamas in Gaza. Over 270 palestinians were killed, and hundreds wounded. Of the 50 targets attacked, the IDF reported a 98% success rate in direct hits of army and police personnel of Hamas.
In a statement, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said, “For several years hundreds of citizens have been suffering rocket attacks. Life in the south has become intolerable. Israel did everything to make the truce in the south possible, but the desire for calm led to terror. No state would accept such a reality.”
Hamas leaders were taken by surprise at the harshness of the attack. In retaliation, Hamas launched tens of rockets at Israel, which hit targets in the cities of Netivot, Ashkelon and Ashdod. In Netivot one person was killed, four others wounded, in a direct hit. Ashdod is the furthest north a Hamas missile from Gaza has hit.
The IDF said in a statement that “the army will continue to strike any target that is used as a base for terror against Israeli civilians. Those who launch terrorist attacks against the residents of Israel’s southern communities will not find shelter anywhere.”
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