As a result of IDF operations, the command and control apparatus of Hamas was significantly struck, beginning with the targeting of the commander of the military wing of Hamas, Ahmed Jabari, continuing with the targeting of broad terrorist infrastructure, facilities and military bases, as well as the destruction of dozens of smuggling and explosive tunnels.
During the operation, the IDF damaged and destroyed significant elements of Hamas' strategic capabilities. Among those capabilities were long-range (over 40 km) and hundreds of short- and medium-range rocket launchers. These actions have severely impaired Hamas' launching capabilities. The Iron Dome defense system has accomplished high rate of successful interceptions (84%) and Hamas’ accuracy with regards to hitting populated areas within Israel remained below 7%.
Over the course of Operation Pillar of Defense, the IDF targeted over 1,500 terror sites including 19 senior command centers, operational control centers and Hamas' senior-rank headquarters, 30 senior operatives, damaging Hamas' command and control, hundreds of underground rocket launchers, 140 smuggling tunnels, 66 terror tunnels, dozens of Hamas operation rooms and bases, 26 weapon manufacturing and storage facilities and dozens of long-range rocket launchers and launch sites.
Senior operatives targeted:
- Ahmed Jabari, head of Hamas' military wing
- Hab's Hassan Us Msamch, senior operative in Hamas' police
- Ahmed Abu Jalal, Commander of the military wing in Al-Muazi
- Khaled Shaer, senior operative in the anti-tank operations
- Osama Kadi, senior operative in the smuggling operations in the southern Gaza Strip
- Muhammad Kalb, senior operative in the aerial defense operations
- Ramz Harb, Islamic Jihad senior operative in propaganda in Gaza city
November 21, 2012
Overnight, the IDF targeted over 100 terror sites, including dozens of terror infrastructure sites throughout the Gaza Strip. The targets included the Ministry of Internal Security, which served as one of the main command and control centers for the Hamas terror organization, as well as an important police compound and a military hideout used as both a meeting place for senior operatives and a communications center.
Over the course of the day, IDF targeted over 50 terror sites, including underground rocket launchers, smuggling tunnels and terror tunnels. Several buildings that belong to senior Hamas operatives and serve as command and control centers were also targeted.
Additionally, a number of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror squads that were involved in promoting terror activity, such as launching rockets at Israel, were targeted.
The Erez Crossing was opened for the crossing of diplomats as well as medical supplies, which usually enter the Gaza Strip through Kerem Shalom. The Kerem Shalom Crossing was closed due to rocket fire.
November 20, 2012
Overnight, the IDF targeted approximately 100 terror sites, including underground rocket launchers, terror tunnels and ammunition storage facilities. The IDF targeted several buildings that were used by terror operatives as command and control centers, as well as approximately ten terror tunnels used as hideouts by Hamas terrorists.
The IDF targeted terrorist squads involved in promoting terrorist activity including the planting of explosive devices and the firing of rockets towards southern Israel. In addition, the IDF targeted 30 underground rocket launchers, as well as a senior terror operative's hiding place which was used to store weapons and ammunition.
Muhammed Shamalah, commander of Hamas forces in the southern Gaza Strip and head of the Hamas militant training programs, was targeted by an Israeli air strike while driving a car clearly labeled "TV", indicating it to be a press vehicle, abusing the protection afforded to journalists.
The IDF also surgically targeted a Hamas intelligence operations center on 7th floor of a media building in Gaza City. Reporters in the building were unharmed.
The bulk of rocket fire is now coming from densely populated areas in the north of the city and from within refugee camps. The IDF has again distributed leaflets warning Gaza's civilians to stay away from Hamas and other terror organization's operatives and positions.
During the course of the evening, the IDF continued targeting dozens of terror infrastructure sites throughout the Gaza Strip, including a bank used to finance Hamas operatives, a site in the southern Gaza Strip used to launch terror attacks, a Hamas command and control center in the northern Gaza Strip, a military hideout, and a meeting place used by senior operatives.