In response to the attack on a children’s bus with an anti-tank missile, over the past 48 hours IDF forces are operating in the Gaza Strip. Combined Air Force, armored and infantry forces are all trying to restore calm to Israel’s southern communities.

Israeli children's school bus that was hit by an anti-tank missile from Gaza

Over the past 48 hours terrorists in Gaza fired over 120 rockets into Israeli territory, 50 of which were fired since this morning. Since Thursday, approximately 8 missiles and rockets were intercepted by the Aerial Defense Corps, using the Iron Dome system.

IAF aircraft and armored forces targeted eleven squads of terrorists in the northern and southern Gaza Strip, immediately following their firing of rockets and mortars into Israel.

IAF aircraft targeted fifteen terror activity sites in the Gaza Strip, including Hamas outposts, smuggling tunnels and weapons manufacturing and storage facilities. Direct hits were confirmed.

Additionally, during joint IDF-ISA activities, IAF aircraft targeted Hamas commanders and operatives, including a senior Hamas operative in the southern Gaza Strip, Tayser Abu Snima. Snima was directly and physically involved in the kidnapping of Israeli soldier SFC Gilad Shalit.

Sergeant 1st Class Gilad Shalit, kidnapped by Hamas terrorists, among them Tayser Abu Snima

In addition, he held several major roles in the military wing of Hamas and was involved in a significant number of terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers. Most recently, he was in charge of executing a terror attack from Sinai, firing rockets at the city of Eilat. The Shalit family was notified of the incident.

The IDF will not tolerate any attempt to harm Israeli civilians, and will continue to operate with strength and determination against any terrorist organization using terror against the state of Israel. The Hamas terrorist organization is solely responsible for any terrorist activity emanating from the Gaza Strip.