The Israel Defense Forces are continuing to operate inside the Gaza Strip, with destruction of the the terror tunnels as the main objective.
PM Benjamin Netanyahu (R), Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon (C), and IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz at a meeting in Tel Aviv on Saturday. (Photo: Ariel Hermoni/Flash90)
Destruction of the Hamas terror tunnels in Gaza remains the main objective of the IDF on Monday, which marks the 21st day of Operation Protective Edge.
A senior IDF officer was quoted Sunday as saying that Israel is in possession of all of the attack tunnels that Hamas had dug from Gaza to Israel. The IDF blew up two more tunnels in the course of the last 24 hours.
“The longer we stay on the ground, the more we learn about the extent of the tunnels and the route they were built in,” the officer said, adding that a few more days are needed in order to dispose of the remaining tunnels.
IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Benny Gantz entered Gaza Sunday to appraise Israel’s military achievements up close and discuss further plans with field commanders. Aware of the mounting international pressure to end the operation immediately and unconditionally, Gantz stated: “It’s going to take some time, but every minute here matters.”
He further pointed out that the IDF was working with full force to destroy the leftover tunnels.
Egyptian border guards, in coordination with the armed forces, destroyed 13 tunnels in Sinai on Saturday evening, stated Armed Forces spokesman Brigadier Mohamed Samir. Authorities also seized a pickup truck that allegedly transferred 68 packs of agricultural pesticides with Hebrew writing on it.
Weapons stored in Hamas terror tunnels. (Photo: IDF)
The military operations, together and possibly in coordination with the Egyptians’ actions, are effectively cutting Hamas off from any real possibility to replenish their rocket arsenal, which is down by 50 percent, according to IDF figures.
An Israeli woman was moderately wounded Sunday afternoon by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip. Over the past 24 hours, more than 71 rockets were fired from Gaza towards Israel. At least 50 rockets hit Israel; nine were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system. Israel struck over 40 terror targets in the Gaza Strip Sunday and 3865 terror targets in total since the beginning of the operation. IDF forces uncovered 32 terror tunnels since July 17.
Since the beginning of Operation Protective Edge more than 2,500 rockets have been fired from Gaza at Israel.
Author: Aryeh Savir, Tazpit News Agency
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