Tuesday, 30 December 2008The day after three Israelis lost their lives in rocket and mortar shell attacks in the South, at least 10 people were killed and 40 others were wounded when IAF planes bombed a series of targets in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday morning, according to Palestinian reports.
The IDF confirmed air strikes against dozens of targets in the central Gaza town of El-Bureij, near Khan Yunis in southern Gaza and in Gaza City, to the north of the Strip.
Hamas's Interior Ministry, Foreign Ministry, Treasury, and Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh's offices were amongst the targets, as well as Gaza police stations.
Also struck were facilities of Hamas's armed wing, Izzadin Kassam, and houses belonging to operatives of the group, including that of its Gaza Division commander.
Speaking to Israel Radio on Tuesday morning, Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilna'i said that Hamas would increase the range of its fire on Israel, but that Israel was prepared for this possibility.
He said that Hamas had hundreds of missiles, but that the group's strength was weakening.
Vilna'i went on to say that the IDF would see Operation Cast Lead through to its completion, and that Israel was prepared for long weeks of battle.
On Monday, three Israelis were killed in Ashkelon, Ashdod and Nahal Oz when over 80 rockets and mortar shells hit southern Israel.
Meanwhile, the IDF was making final preparations for a penetrating ground operation into the Gaza Strip.
Tanks, armored personnel carriers, artillery batteries and soldiers from several infantry units massed along Gaza's border ahead of the operation, which defense officials said would likely be limited in time.
Defense officials said that the ground operation, if launched, would penetrate deep into Gaza with the aim of dealing a strategic blow to Hamas. Barak, the officials said, declared during the assessment that he did not want to utilize all of the forces at the IDF's disposal since it would create "static targets" for Hamas.
"We will hit them where they least expect it," one official said, adding that the artillery batteries deployed along the border would likely be used in the event of a ground operation. "We will need to constantly be moving on the ground to maintain the element of surprise."
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Tuesday, 30 December 2008
JPost
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