Israeli Army launches offensive operation Protective Edge against the Gaza Strip 0807143

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Defence & Security News - Israel
 
 
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.
     
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.
Israeli soldiers with Merkava 4 main battle tank outside the southern Gaza Strip July 7, 2014. Reuters
     
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.

During the day Monday, lines of Israeli tanks and buses were gathered near the borderarea. Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, an Israel Defense Forces spokesman, had said the army was moving more infantry forces to the Gaza border and had received authorization to mobilize up to 1,500 reservists.

A majority of the reserve soldiers will be sent to unit headquarters and Home Front Command units, and some are Border Police who will replace conscripted forces currently on duty in the West Bank, freeing them up for deployment to Gaza.