[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvBf-Vh4pNg&feature=PlayList&p=24B346594DCE3F37&index=4]
6 Jan. 2009 – Hamas terrorists hide in a school belong to the UN agency UNRWA and yet again use the Palestinian people as a human shield, IDF Spokesperson Capt. Benjamin Rutland reports.
January 6th, 2009
Hamas Operatives Killed in UNRWA School
After an investigation that took place over the past hour it has been found that amongst the dead at the Jabalya school were Hamas terror operatives and a mortar battery cell who were firing on IDF forces in the area. Hamas operatives Imad Abu Askhar and Hassan Abu Askhar were amongst terrorists that were identified to be killed.
“We face a very delicate situation where the Hamas is using the citizens of Gaza as a protective vest,” IDF Spokesperson Brig. General Avi Benayahu said following the incident.
January 6th, 2009
Initial Inquiry into School Incident in Jabalya
An initial inquiry by forces on operating in the area of the incident indicates that a number of mortar shells were fired at IDF forces from within the Jabalya school. In response to the incoming enemy fire, the forces returned mortar fire to the source.
This is not the first time that Hamas has fired mortars and rockets from schools, in such a way deliberately using civilians as human shields in their acts of terror against Israel. This was already proven several months ago by footage from an unmanned plane depicting rockets and mortars being fired from the yard of an UNRWA school. This footage is available on our YouTube channel and on this blog.
Again, we emphasize that this announcement is based on an initial inquiry.
A missile launcher and a number of anti tank missiles were discovered hidden in a Palestinian school yard in Sajalya, northern Gaza Strip, during an IDF operation against terror threats. The IDF force returned fire at an armed Palestinian gunman who opened fire at the soldiers and identified hitting him.
January 6th, 2009
Summary of Overnight and Morning Activity
Operation Cast Lead continued throughout the night (Jan. 6) in the Gaza Strip and throughout the day (Jan. 7); large numbers of infantry, tank, engineering, artillery and intelligence forces operated throughout the Gaza Strip, with the assistance of the Israel Air Force and the Israel Navy.
Naval forces operated in the central Gaza Strip overnight, near Dir al-Balah. Several gunmen were killed during the operation.
The Paratroopers Brigade were operating in northern Gaza and identified a suicide bomber approaching them in order to detonate himself in an attack targeting the soldiers. The troops fired at the man, causing his suicide belt to detonate. One soldier was lightly wounded in the incident.
A structure in Jabaliya was attacked in a joint IDF and ISA operation. Iman Siam, the head of the Hamas rocket launching program was inside the building at the time. Siam is one of the senior Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip and he founded the organization’s rocket launching program, in addition to being the head of Hamas’s artillery program throughout the Gaza Strip.
The IAF struck approximately 50 targets in Gaza. Among the targets were:
The Navy, Air Force and Artillery Corps continued to support ground forces in the northern Gaza Strip, striking Hamas targets, Hamas gunmen, and terrorists identified in rocket launching areas.
The IDF will continue to operate against the Hamas terror infrastructure in the Gaza Strip according to its operational plans in order to reduce the rocket fire on the south of Israel.
Major Dagan Wertman
Captain Yehonatan Netanel
Staff Sgt. Nitay Stern
Crpl. Yousif Moaddi
January 6th, 2009
Attack on House of Hamas Senior
IDF Officer Killed in Last Night’s Incidents
A short while ago, a structure was struck in a joint IDF and ISA operation, in Jabaliya. Iman Siam, head of the Hamas rocket launching program, was present in the house. Siam is one of the senior Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip. He founded the organization’s rocket launching program, and is also the head of Hamas’ artillery program throughout the Gaza Strip.
In addition, the IDF Spokesperson Unit announces that in an incident last night, an IDF officer was killed during an operation in the northern Gaza Strip.
The officer’s family has been notified.
The details of the incident are still being investigated.
January 6th, 2009
Friendly Fire Incident
Three IDF soldiers were killed, one was critically wounded, three were severely wounded and 20 soldiers were lightly to moderately wounded as a result of an IDF tank shell explosion fired in error during an operation in the northern Gaza Strip. The shell hit a structure where the soldiers were located.
The families of the fallen and injured soldiers have been notified.
The incident occurred during an intensive battle waged by Golani Brigade soldiers against Hamas.
In the hours following the incident other scenarios were taken into consideration as the cause, including that the explosion was caused by an enemy anti-tank missile or that the structure was rigged with explosives, but these were later ruled out.
The injured soldiers received initial medical treatment in the field before being evacuated by helicopters and vehicles to hospitals in Israel. Heavy IDF artillery fire provided cover for the evacuation.
Golani Brigade commander, Colonel Avi Peled, sustained light injuries in the incident. Col. Peled oversaw the evacuation in the field and directed the artillery and aerial cover via communication systems. Only after all those injured were evacuated did the brigade commander seek medical attention for himself.
