Since October 7, the Israeli Air Force has executed approximately 6,000 airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, targeting Hamas facilities and leadership.
Quick Facts
- Targets: The Israeli Air Force has struck around 3,600 Hamas targets, including command centers, military infrastructure, and key Hamas leaders.
- Casualties: Palestinian Health Ministry reports indicate that at least 1,537 Palestinians have been killed and 6,612 injured since the airstrikes began.
- Retaliation: The airstrikes are in response to sudden attacks by Hamas on Israeli towns, resulting in approximately 1,200 Israeli casualties.
The Israeli Air Force’s operations have been primarily against Hamas targets, which they detailed in a statement on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. These targets encompassed a broad range of military assets, from command centers and weapons production sites to intelligence assets and key Hamas figures. The forcefulness of these strikes is evident in the released aerial footage, where missiles can be seen obliterating multi-story buildings.
Among the targeted structures were residences used by “Hamas terror operatives.” This included a house associated with Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Additionally, the Israeli Air Force targeted vehicles, storage areas for naval weapons, and homes of senior Hamas operatives. The aftermath of these strikes has been devastating for the Palestinian population, with a significant number of casualties being children, as reported by aid groups like Doctors Without Borders.
These airstrikes are a retaliation to a series of attacks by Hamas on Israeli towns on October 7. These attacks resulted in the death of around 1,200 Israelis and injuries to another 3,000. In the wake of these attacks, Hamas fighters also took approximately 100 hostages back to Gaza. Israel’s response has been comprehensive, with a full siege on the Gaza Strip, affecting its 2 million residents by cutting off access to essential resources like electricity, fuel, medicine, and food. In anticipation of further escalation, Israel has mobilized an estimated 300,000 reservists for a potential ground offensive into the Gaza Strip.
| For Further Reading | Hamas: Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist militant organization. It has a social service wing, Dawah, and a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades. Founded in 1987, it emerged as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood. The group’s primary objective is the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state. Its charter, however, has been a subject of controversy, particularly its stance towards Israel. Over the years, Hamas has been responsible for numerous attacks, ranging from suicide bombings to rocket attacks. [Wikipedia] |
Q&A
Why did the Israeli Air Force target the Gaza Strip?
The Israeli Air Force targeted the Gaza Strip in retaliation to sudden attacks by Hamas on Israeli towns, which resulted in significant Israeli casualties.
How many Palestinians have been affected by these airstrikes?
At least 1,537 Palestinians have been killed, and 6,612 others have been injured since the airstrikes began on October 7.
What has been Israel’s broader response to the Hamas attacks?
Beyond the airstrikes, Israel has imposed a full siege on the Gaza Strip, cutting off access to essential resources and mobilizing an estimated 300,000 reservists for a potential ground offensive.
Original article source: DNyuz