GOC Central Command, Maj. Gen. Avi Mizrahi, has officially concluded the investigation of the arrest operation in Hebron on January 7th, during which five active Hamas members were arrested and civilian Amr Qawasme was regrettably killed.
Maj. Gen. Mizrahi cocluded that the initial firing at Qawasme was done following a suspicious movement that caused the soldier to feel that his life was threatened, especially having known about the actions of Wael Bitar, a senior Hamas operative who was the main suspect of the arrest operation. Maj. Gen. Mizrahi concluded that this firing was executed in accordance with IDF rules of engagement.
Maj. Gen Mizrahi has also been presented with the results of the inquiry into the matter of a second soldier, who, having watched the first soldier firing at Qawasme, began firing at him as well. Maj. Gen. Mizrahi concluded that while the second soldier did feel threatened, he acted unprofessionally. Therefore, Maj. Gen. Mizrahi has ordered that the soldier’s military term be terminated.
The IDF deeply regrets the death of Amr Qawasme.
Monthly Archives: January 2011
Commander of IDF Soldier Killed in Gaza Security Fence Incident Resigns
Maj. Elad Peretz, the commander of the deceased soldier who was killed due to friendly fire while preventing terrorist operatives from planting explosive devices near the Gaza Strip border security fence, took personal responsibility for the accident and resigned from his position as Deputy Commander of the Tzefa Battalion of the Paratroopers Brigade.
Staff Sgt. Nadav Rotenberg was killed in the incident near the Gaza border
Staff Sgt. Nadav Rotenberg of the Paratroopers Brigade was killed on January 7th. In addition, an IDF officer was moderately injured, and three other IDF soldiers were lightly wounded in the incident in which mortars were accidentally fired by an IDF force preventing a Palestinian militant group from planting explosive devices along the security fence.
Last night (January 18th), the GOC Central Command, Maj. Gen. Avi Mizrachi, met with Maj. Elad Peretz following Maj. Peretz’s request to leave his position in the Battalion as a result of the Gaza border friendly fire incident.
During the meeting, Maj. Peretz repeated his request to conclude his duties out of a sense of personal responsibility and as the senior commander in the area who oversaw the incident two weeks ago.
The GOC Central Command accepted Maj. Peretz’s request to resign his position, noting that the manner in which Maj. Peretz chose to conduct his duties was testament to his distinction and personal esteem as an officer in the Paratroopers Brigade.
IAF Targets Hamas Sites in the Gaza Strip
In response to rocket fire, overnight the Israeli Air Force targeted three terror sites in the central Gaza Strip. Direct hits were confirmed.
These terror-linked sites were targeted in response to the firing of rockets at Israel’s southern communities over the past few days: Four Qassam rockets landed in the Ashkelon Shore Regional Council since Monday morning.
The IDF holds the Hamas terrorist organization solely responsible for maintaining the calm in the Gaza Strip and for any terrorist activity emanating from it. The IDF will also continue to respond harshly to any attempt to use terror against the State of Israel.
Islamic Jihad Operative Planning Massive Terror Attack Targeted in Joint Operation
A short while ago, in a joint IDF-ISA operation, an Israeli Air Force aircraft targeted an operative of the Islamic Jihad, Mohammed Najar. Najar, born in 1987, was involved in planning a massive terror attack in the heart of Israel. A direct hit was confirmed.
This operation disrupts the execution of an attack by Islamic Jihad, a terrorist organization that has been involved in the firing of rockets towards Israeli territory and IDF forces in the past few days.
Over 20 Qassam rockets and mortar shells fired from the Gaza Strip landed in Israeli territory since the beginning of 2011.
IAF Targets Hamas Sites in the Gaza Strip
In response to the intense rocket fire in the past 72 hours, overnight the Israel Air Force targeted two terror sites in the northern and southern Gaza Strip. Direct hits were confirmed.
These terror-linked sites were targeted in response to the firing of rockets at Israel’s southern communities over the past 72 hours. Since Friday evening three Qassam rockets and five mortar shells were launched from the Gaza Strip at Sha’ar Ha-Negev, Eshkol and Sdot Negev Regional Councils, injuring a total of three civilians.
The IDF holds the Hamas terrorist organization solely responsible for maintaining the calm in the Gaza Strip and for any terrorist activity emanating from it. The IDF will also continue to respond harshly to any attempt to use terror against the State of Israel.
Commander of the Judea and Samaria Divison Addresses Abu Rahma Case, Hebron Arrest
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZudkqj5x-E]
The Commander of the Judea and Samaria Division, Brig. Gen. Nitzan Alon, gave a briefing on Friday (January 7th) in which he addressed recent incidents in his region of command, including last week’s riot in Bil’in, and the arrest of senior Hamas terrorists in Hebron.
Included in the briefing is the IDF’s estimation that Jawaher Abu Rahma did not die because of the tear gas used to disperse the violent riot in Bil’in, but because of treatment she received at the Palestinian hospital.
Furthermore, Brig. Gen. Alon elaborated on the recent arrest of a Hamas terror cell in Hebron, the members of which were responsible for the death of four Israelis a few months ago, as well as the 2008 suicide bombing in Dimona which resulted in one death and ten casualties.
Video: Violent Riot in Bil’in During Weekend
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aP3Z7Q815Lg]
The above video shows scenes from the riot in the village of Bil’in on January 7th 2011.
Every Friday, demonstrators riot near the village of Bil’in protesting the path of the security fence. The Israeli High Court ruled that the course of the fence should be altered, and currently work is underway for the new fence. When the new security fence is completed, the one adjacent to Bil’in will be removed. Despite this, the demonstrators continue to riot, using violence, throwing rocks and sometimes firebombs. Over the past several years over 200 Israeli security personnel have been injured at these riots.
In the video Brig. Gen. Nitzan Alon, the Commander of the Judea and Samaria Division, discusses protocol for handling the riots, followed by rioters marching, damaging the security fence and hurling rocks towards security forces.
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IDF Thwarts Terror Attack at Bekaot Crossing
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90LzXLs_c7s]
Yesterday, a Palestinian man who arrived at the Bekaot crossing in a taxi began running towards an IDF force present at the scene, while yelling “Allahu Akbar” and holding a suspicious object. The rest of the men who were in the taxi fled the scene.
The force called on the man to halt, and when he did not comply, the force began a complete arrest procedure, eventually firing at the suspect. The man was injured and sappers who arrived at the scene discovered that he was holding a pipe bomb, an additional explosive device and a knife. Medical teams who arrived at the scene determined the man’s death.
IDF Soldier Killed and Several Others Injured in Incident Near Gaza Border
On Friday night, Sgt. Nadav Rotenberg, an IDF soldier, was killed. In addition, an IDF officer was moderately injured. Three other IDF soldiers were lightly wounded during an incident near the Gaza Border.
An initial investigation of the incident held by the GOC Southern Command, Maj. Gen. Tal Russo and the Commander of the Gaza Division, Brig. Gen. Yossi Bachar, shows that the soldiers were accidentally hurt by mortars fired by IDF soldiers.
An IDF force identified several Palestinian militants planting explosive devices near the fence in the Central Gaza Strip. IDF soldiers fired mortar shells at the direction of the militants. For a reason that is still unclear, one of the shells deviated from its course and hurt the soldiers mentioned. As stated, this is an initial investigation.
GOC Southern command, Maj. Gen. Tal Russo, has appointed an IDF colonel to head the team investigating the incident.
Senior Hamas Operative Arrested in the Hebron Region
Earlier this morning, IDF soldiers arrested Wael Mahmoud Said Bitar, a senior member of the Hamas armed infrastructure in the Hebron Region. Bitar was the assistant of Shehab Natshe, who planned the suicide bombing in Dimona of 2008, in which an Israeli woman was killed and ten civilians were injured. After Natshe was killed, Bitar planned several suicide attacks that were eventually thwarted. In September 2008, Bitar was arrested by Palestinian forces.
During this morning’s arrest operation, a Palestinian man who was present in one of the terrorist’s homes was killed. The IDF regrets the outcome of the incident and the GOC Central Command, Maj. Gen Avi Mizrachi has ordered the commander of Judea and Samaria Division, Brig. Gen. Nitzan Alon to immediately investigate the incident and to present its conclusions as early as next week.
In addition to Bitar, four Hamas operatives who were working alongside Bitar were arrested overnight. All five of the Palestinians were released from a Palestinian prison yestersday.
