From the Liveblog of
Friday, July 11, 2014
IDF releases list of recent Hamas targets, vows to continue strikes
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleThe IDF releases on Friday morning a list of Hamas targets hit by Israeli strikes over the past 24 hours.
“In cooperation with the Israel Security Agency (ISA), the IDF targeted the residences of senior terror operatives, which were used for the purposes of advancing terror activities and operations, including command and control of the Hamas terror network,” the army says in a statement.
“Among those targeted was the residence of Attiya Abu Nakira, a senior terror operative in the Rafah area, responsible for numerous attacks on Israel. Abu Nakira, born in 1976, oversaw all Hamas terror activity in his territory, including the establishment of a terror network in the Rafah area and the training of terror operatives, contributing to the overall strengthening of Hamas. Attacks executed by Abu Nakira included rocket attacks on Israel, rocket firing on IDF forces (including tanks and aircraft), a major tunnel-based explosive attack against an IDF position in 2001, and attacks against Israel during operations Cast Lead and Pillar of Defense.”
The IDF also targeted “a Hamas training facility, which was adjacent to a school,” the army says. “Israeli intelligence services have reported the presence of rockets in the school, as well as the presence of an on-site terror tunnel. The Salah al-Islamiah Society also carried out functions at this site, evidence of the way in which Hamas carries out terrorism under the presumed cover of civilian facilities.”
The army vows to continue the campaign “to systematically target Hamas’s network and infrastructure in the Gaza Strip, so as to strike a severe blow to the terror organization responsible for nearly 550 rocket attacks on Israeli civilians since the start of Operation Protective Edge, and thousands more rockets and additional attacks over the years. Thus far, the IDF has greatly damaged Hamas capabilities in the Gaza Strip and will continue to target Hamas and all who engage in terrorism against the residents of Israel.”
Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, IDF spokesman: “Whereas Israel safeguards Israeli civilians with its military capabilities, the Hamas safeguards its terror capabilities with Palestinian civilians while carrying out terrorism against the people of Israel, a deplorable and gross violation of the most basic of standards.”
The Times of Israel Community.