Israel Air Force aircraft attacked a Hamas training ground late last night, killing 14 terrorists in the midst of practicing infiltrations into Jewish communities and military outposts. Another 30 terrorists or more were wounded.
The targeted camp was of the Hamas military wing, the Iz A-Din Al-Kassam Brigades. It was also used to train budding terrorists in the placing of bombs and the use of weapons including Kassam rockets and RPG shoulder-held missiles.
Hamas, admitting that this was the biggest military blow that Israel had dealt them, has already threatened retaliation, as has Islamic Jihad. Some 50,000 Arabs took part in the funeral processions this afternoon, calling for revenge.
Israel will predictably now face an international propaganda onslaught, though Foreign Ministry sources feel that last night's attack will be relatively easy to defend. The main talking point will be that the target was a purely military one, and that no civilians were killed in the attack. Israeli sources have also said that the offensive was a follow-up to the Be'er Sheva double bus bombing last week, in which 16 Israelis were killed; Hamas was behind that attack.
Palestinian terrorists responded this morning with a barrage of six Kassam rockets and three mortar shells. Two Kassams landed in Sderot, causing no material damage, but wounding a 60-year-old jogger. Other Kassams landed harmlessly near Yad Mordechai, Miflasim, and northern Gaza. The mortar shells were fired at Jewish towns in Gush Katif, landing in built-up areas - including a school bus stop - but causing no casualties or damage.
Earlier last night, Arabs fired at an IDF position near Rafiah Yam, at IDF troops south of Kibbutz Nahal Oz, and at troops in the area of Kfar Darom in southern Gaza. No one was hurt.
With strange timing, it was announced last night that 150 PA "security prisoners" will be released next week, because of overcrowding in the Israeli jails. Officials report that the prisoners to be released have completed most of their prison terms, and were serving time for relatively "light" offensives such as rock-throwing attacks.
The targeted camp was of the Hamas military wing, the Iz A-Din Al-Kassam Brigades. It was also used to train budding terrorists in the placing of bombs and the use of weapons including Kassam rockets and RPG shoulder-held missiles.
Hamas, admitting that this was the biggest military blow that Israel had dealt them, has already threatened retaliation, as has Islamic Jihad. Some 50,000 Arabs took part in the funeral processions this afternoon, calling for revenge.
Israel will predictably now face an international propaganda onslaught, though Foreign Ministry sources feel that last night's attack will be relatively easy to defend. The main talking point will be that the target was a purely military one, and that no civilians were killed in the attack. Israeli sources have also said that the offensive was a follow-up to the Be'er Sheva double bus bombing last week, in which 16 Israelis were killed; Hamas was behind that attack.
Palestinian terrorists responded this morning with a barrage of six Kassam rockets and three mortar shells. Two Kassams landed in Sderot, causing no material damage, but wounding a 60-year-old jogger. Other Kassams landed harmlessly near Yad Mordechai, Miflasim, and northern Gaza. The mortar shells were fired at Jewish towns in Gush Katif, landing in built-up areas - including a school bus stop - but causing no casualties or damage.
Earlier last night, Arabs fired at an IDF position near Rafiah Yam, at IDF troops south of Kibbutz Nahal Oz, and at troops in the area of Kfar Darom in southern Gaza. No one was hurt.
With strange timing, it was announced last night that 150 PA "security prisoners" will be released next week, because of overcrowding in the Israeli jails. Officials report that the prisoners to be released have completed most of their prison terms, and were serving time for relatively "light" offensives such as rock-throwing attacks.