A day-long IDF counter-terrorism operation in central Gaza was concluded Thursday night. Up to seven Palestinian Authority terrorists were reportedly killed by Israeli troops and several others wounded. Four soldiers were injured in clashes with enemy gunmen.
IDF officials characterized the operation, which involved ground and air forces, as "routine." They expressed hope that the success of the incursion would prevent terrorists from approaching the Gaza securityfence, which has been the site of numerous attempted attacks in recent weeks.
Tanks and soldiers from the Golani Brigade and the Engineering Corps, backed up by 
Officials characterized the operation, which involved ground and air forces, as "routine."
IAF aircraft, entered central Gaza on Wednesday night. Operating in an area near the Maghazi refugee camp, the forces launched into a search and destroy mission aimed at PA terror cells, bases of operation, supplies and other terrorist infrastructure. PA gunmen opened fire on the IDF forces several times during the operation, including at least one effort to shoot down an Israeli helicopter. Soldiers responded from the ground and the air, killing seven terrorists and injuring several others.
During the clashes on Thursday, enemy gunmen fired an anti-tank rocket at a house in which IDF soldiers were stationed, wounding three of the troops, one of them seriously. The injured man was transferred to the Soroka Hospital in Be'er Sheva for continued medical treatment. Another soldier was wounded earlier in the day
Despite the IDF activity in Gaza this week, PA terrorists successfully fired at least six Kassam rockets at Jewish towns in the western Negev during the day on Thursday. One of the rockets landed next to an elementary school in Sderot, sending 10 children into shock.
On Thursday evening and into the night, PA terrorists fired another 15 mortar shells at the Gaza securityfence. Three of the shells landed near the Erez Crossing between Gaza and the Negev, while 12 landed within Gaza or in open areas. No injuries or damage were reported in the shelling.
A Call to Step Up Targeted Killings
Retired IDF Brigadier-General Yechiam Sasson, the former head of the IDF's counter-terrorism division, said Thursday that Israel must declare war on Hamas.
"There is no question that the IDF operations disrupt and even damage Hamas activities, but that is not enough," Sasson said.
While the IDF should not begin a massive ground operation at this time, it should step up targeted killings of Hamas leaders, Sasson explained. The army should destroy Hamas institutions as well, he added, referring to the recent assassination of several terrorist heads in Gaza as a "welcome trend." He called to continue those operations in order to put "intolerable pressure" on terrorist groups.
The senior terrorist leaders recently eliminated in targeted strikes by IDF forces were members of the Islamic Jihad group, not Hamas. The jihadist Hamas organization is currently in official political and military control of the Gaza region of the Palestinian Authority.