Ground Operation started in Gaza + Summary of previous week of the op
Troops enter Gaza (Photo: Sky News/AFP)
So, after the week of massive Air Force operation against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the ground op. started this evening.
Here is some summary of the previous week:
- More than 750 targets have been destroyed by the Air Force throughout 'Operation Cast Lead', including homes of Hamas operatives, mosques, underground tunnels, warehouses, and offices, all of which the IDF claims have been used for terror purposes.
- Casualties on the Palestinian side - 428 dead and more than 2,200 injured (as on the seventh day of the operation). Palestinian sources said at least 150 were civilians, a third of them children.
- The rockets fire from Gaza didn't stop; every day approx. 50 rockets were fired.
- The range of the rockets has been increased to the radius up to 40 km from Gaza. This is about 1 million (!) people that live in constant fear of rocket hit. 250,000 school children are in their home, not attending the school during this week. Some cities that never were under the rockets attack are connected now to the emergency sirens. Several my relatives live in some of those cities. More about it in my next, "friends only", post.
- Unfortunetely I coudln't find exact statistics about casualties on our side. I can remember at least 3 people dead from a direct rocket hit, several hard wounded. There are many people that suffered from a shock after rocket fall near them.
IDF troops enter Gaza Strip
Ground op underway: Following heavy artillery bombardment, IDF soldiers enter Gaza Saturday evening; Defense Minister Ehud Barak: We won't abandon our citizens. Army officials say at least 30 Hamas terrorists hurt
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