ISRAEL INTERCEPTS GAZA Rockets Using "Iron Dome" MISSILE DEFENSE System

ISRAEL INTERCEPTS GAZA Rockets Using "Iron Dome" MISSILE DEFENSE System.

Israeli military says its "Iron Dome" defense system intercepted 13 rockets fired from Gaza on Wednesday in what appears to be retaliation for Israeli airstrikes that reportedly killed 10, including the commander of the Hamas military wing.

The Israeli military said the some 20 airstrikes were part of a major offensive dubbed "Operation Pillar of Defense," Reuters reports.

"All options are on the table. If necessary, the (Israeli military) is ready to initiate a ground operation in Gaza," it said.

Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel cannot tolerate continued rocket attacks against its citizens. In his first comments since Israel killed the commander of the Hamas military wing, Netanyahu said Israel is "prepared to expand the operation."

Hamas has responded with threats of retaliation.

"The occupation has opened the gates of hell," the armed wing of Hamas reportedly said.

"Israel has declared war on Gaza and they will bear the responsibility for the consequences," Islamic Jihad reportedly said.

Ahmad Jabari, the commander of military wing of Hamas, was the most senior Hamas official to be killed since the last war in Gaza ended in early 2009. He has long topped Israel's most-wanted list, blamed for a string of deadly attacks, including the kidnapping of Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit in 2006.

The offensive followed a weekend exchange of rocket fire from Gaza on southern Israel and Israeli airstrikes. Seven Palestinians were killed and several Israelis were wounded.

The military said its aircraft targeted more than 20 facilities that served as storage or launching sites for rockets. Among the weapons destroyed were rockets that could hit as far as 25 miles into Israel.

Plumes of black smoke wafted into Gaza City's skies following at least five airstrikes there. Sirens blared as people ran in panic in the streets and militants fired angrily into the air. Hamas police cordoned off the area around a hospital where at least one body from the strike was taken. It was draped in a white sheet, with a burnt leg poking out.

Gaza Health Minister Dr. Mufeed Mkhallalati said a total of 10 people were killed, including Jabari, and 45 wounded, 10 of them in critical condition. Among the dead were three civilians, including an 11-month-old and a 6-year-old.

Hamas announced a state of emergency in the territory. It evacuated all its security buildings.

Outside the hospital where Jabari's body was taken, Hamas official Khalil al-Haya eulogized the commander and threatened Israel.

"The battle between us and the occupation is open and it will end only with the liberation of Palestine and Jerusalem," he said.

Thousands of angry Gazans chanted "Retaliation" and "We want you to hit Tel Aviv tonight."

Witnesses said Jabari was traveling in a vehicle in Gaza City when the car exploded. Crowds of people and security personnel rushed to the scene of the strike, trying to put out the fire that had engulfed the car and left it a charred shell. The Israeli military released a grainy, black-and-white video of the airstrike. It shows a sedan moving slowly along a road before exploding in a powerful blast that sent a large piece of the car flying into the air.

"After a couple of days on ongoing rocket attacks toward Israeli civilians, the (Israeli military) chief of staff has authorized to open an operation against terror targets in the Gaza Strip," military spokeswoman Lt. Col. Avital Leibovitch said.

She said Jabari had "a lot of blood of his hands" and that the military chief "authorized different targets" as well.

Dovish Israeli lawmaker Dov Hanin condemned the killing.

"Assassinating leaders is never the solution. In place of the leaders killed, other will grow, and we will only get another cycle of fire and blood," he said.

The assassination threatened to further damage Israel's relations with Egypt, which is governed by Hamas' ideological counterpart, the Muslim Brotherhood.


TAGS: Hamas, open, war, indefinitely, Israel, Hamas, commander, Ahmed, Jabari, Israeli, airstrike, AFP, dangerous, crime, red lines, declaration, war, Palestinian, President, Mahmoud, Abbas, Arab, League, meeting, Mosques, Gaza, mourners, revenge, retaliation, Tel, Aviv, Shifa, hospital, child, killed, strikes, Red, Cross, wounded, rockets, Beersheba, Army, Radio, media, reports, Iron, Dome, missile, defense, system, tactic, resistance, suicide, attacks, Zionist, enemy, cowardly, Palestine, Jerusalem, liberated, war, crime, national, security, reelection, bid, RTGlobalReport

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  News & Politics

[samansepehr]

We could have fireworks instead of this, and happiness instead of death. Shame on politicians. Peace from Iran.

[ZinderZim]

My tax dollars paid for this and i want my money back

[WBPcImx]

Muslim crap will never let the world live in peace !

They are searching for death to meet their virgins...

[ZinderZim]

That shows your ignorance. To say Israel is coming up with new technology. The only thing notable that came from the Jews was Anne Frank's diary.

And why would I move to Saudi Arabia? I served in the US Navy for 9 years, I have no relations to that country. Israel doesn't deserve to even exist. They are the cancer because of how much they drain the world for resources claiming that they are the land of the messiah, Even Christopher Hitchens hated Israel.

[Mikeybetts]

i would say Gaza and palestine are the worlds biggest cancers.

much of today's technology an medicine comes from israel, that is how it works.

america funds israel.

israel develops new technology and medicine and gives this to america.

america puts this into civilian applications and helps the economy and into military use, again to help the economy and save lives.

you dont like Israel, then move to saudi arabia where being a jew is illegal.

[ZinderZim]

I'm an American, and I want my tax dollars spent on American soil. Fuck the Israelis, they can pull their own. Why should we spend our money and troops and a country that essentially stole land and killed innocent people. You talk a lot about saving innocent lives, then how can you support Israel, the biggest cancer the world has ever seen since the Nazi's

[Mikeybetts]

i pay taxes and i say... money well spent.

[Mikeybetts]

you want your money back for the kind of technology which has saved thousands of lives since it was invented, and which is the king of technology which leads to civilian applications (in the same way computers started in military use but are now civilian)?

wow, you must be one bloodthirsty psychopath if you dont want your tax dollars saving people's lives.

[grabthis joke]

I watch many news channels. inclduing anti-westren ones like RT, or ur gvrmnt owned - presstv. CNN is actually (and obviously) anti-iran gvmnt, but I don't think they are against the people. i do believe that it's all a game of interests, not just by the US. but to the subject- i do think that the islamic republic preventing iran from becoming a successful country.

I've read that the grandson of Khomeini, Hussein Khomeini, even called to america to invade iran. lol

[samansepehr]

It's not supported by people. What you see on CNN and other channels is a lie. For example CNN goes to the voting polls that are crowded by government people to show the support. What is really going on is that US supports the crazy governments in this region to get their oil for cheap and they pretend that they are against this government. There is no way to know how many people are like me but it's more than 50%, some say it's even more than 90%.

[Damremont18]

Congratulations Israel, not only have you managed to piss off Hamas, but it seems you've managed to piss off the haters, judging by the comments here. Love it. Keep up the good work.