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Israeli Army launches offensive operation Protective Edge against the Gaza Strip 0807143.
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Defence & Security News - Israel |
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| Tuesday, July 8, 2014 09:44 AM | |||
| Israeli Army launches offensive operation Protective Edge against the Gaza Strip. | |||
The
Israeli army said it launched the offensive operation "Protective
Edge" early Tuesday, July 8, 2014, against the Gaza Strip to quell
rocket attacks, and a Palestinian official said Israeli airstrikes injured
at least nine Palestinians. |
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 Israeli soldiers with Merkava 4 main battle tank outside the southern Gaza Strip July 7, 2014. Reuters |
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Early
Tuesday, the Israel Defense Forces announced on Twitter that they had
“commenced Operation Protective Edge in Gaza against Hamas in order
to stop the terror Israel’s citizens face on a daily basis.”
The decision on the operation was made by the Cabinet after the rocket fire escalated dramatically on Monday. Tensions have been high since three Israeli teenagers kidnapped June 12 in the West Bank were later found dead, followed by last week's slaying of the Palestinian youth in what many suspect was a revenge attack. Throughout the unrest, Gaza militants have launched more than 200 rockets and mortars into Israel, including close to 100 on Monday alone. Israel has responded with dozens of airstrikes, but has not been able to halt the attacks. Eight Palestinian militants were killed in fighting Monday, the highest death toll yet. The
army said at least 70 rockets were fired at Israel from Gaza on Monday,
including 40 launched in a single hour after nightfall, setting off air
raid sirens up to 50 miles (80 kilometers) from Gaza, the military said. |
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