IDF Operation Pillar of Defense - Tuesday, November 20 Updates
Israel Defense Forces
6:08 p.m.: A short while ago, a rocket fired from Gaza directly struck a building in the central Israeli city of Rishon LeZion.
6:01 p.m.: Earlier this afternoon, the IDF targeted a terrorist squad adjacent to a structure used as a weapon storage facility and as a rocket launching site in the northern Gaza Strip.
Also, the IDF targeted a terrorist squad in the northern Gaza Strip.
5:30 p.m.: In the last hour, the IDF has targeted 13 terrorists within the Gaza Strip. 17 terrorists have been targeted over the course of the day.
4:48 p.m.: The IDF has distributed leaflets over the Gaza Strip warning Gaza's civilians to stay away from Hamas and other terror organization's operatives and positions. Below is the content of the leaflets.
The first leaflet:
To the residents of Sheikh Ajlin, Tel Al-Hwa, Rimal South, Zeitoun, Sjaiya, Turkeman and Sajiya Jadida: For your safety, you are required to evacuate your residences immediately and move towards the central Gaza city, via Al-Khara, Jma'at Al Dul Al Arabia, Al Aqsa Al Qudsiya, Um Alaimoun, Salah A-din, Al-Maqsurra, Hal's Mjdad. In the central Gaza city, you are required to stay between the areas of Salah A-din from the west, Amar Al-Muchtar from the north, Al-Nasser from the east and Al-Quds St. from the south.
The second leaflet:
To the residents of of the outskirts of Shati, Al-Atatra, Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun: for your safety, you are required to evacuate your residences immediately and move towards central Gaza city via Al-Falujah, Al-Udda and Salah A-din. In the central Gaza city, you are required to stay between the roads of Salah A-din from the west, Amar Al-Muchtar from the north, Al-Nasser from the east and Al-Quds St. from the south.
Hamas has told Gaza's civilians to ignore these pamphlets via radio, endangering their own citizens.
4:25 p.m.: A short while ago, 5 IDF soldiers were wounded by rockets fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel. Details forthcoming.
2:35 p.m.: Over the course of the morning, the IDF targeted eleven terrorist squads who were involved in promoting terrorist activity including the planting of explosive devices and the firing of rockets towards southern Israel. In addition, the IDF targeted 30 underground rocket launchers, as well as a senior terror operative's hiding place which was used to store weapons and ammunition. As a result severe damage was inflicted upon the rocket launching capabilities and weapon storage facilities owned by terror organizations operating in the Gaza Strip. Furthermore, tank shells and artillery fire were used.
In the past hour, the IDF has targeted a terrorist squad in the southern Gaza Strip, which was preparing to fire an anti-tank missile towards Israel. In addition, artillery shells were fired towards the area from which rockets were fired earlier at the Eshkol Regional Council.
The Gaza Strip has been turned into a forward base for Iran, forcing Israeli citizens to live under unbearable circumstances.
The sites that were targeted were positively identified by precise intelligence over the course of several months.
The IDF is determined to continue targeting sites that are used to carry out terror attacks against the State of Israel and its citizens.
2:30 p.m.: Reports indicate that the rocket fell outside Jerusalem in a Palestinian village.
2:16 p.m.: Moments ago, rocket alarms went off in Jerusalem for the second time this week. Details forthcoming.
12:05 a.m.: Due to rocket fire in the immediate area, the Kerem Shalom crossing will remain closed for the rest of the day. 24 trucks of humanitarian aid managed to make it through the crossings prior to the rocket strikes.
11:50 a.m.: A short while ago, an IDF soldier was wounded in a rocket attack in southern Israel, details forthcoming.
10:35 a.m.: Kerem Shalom opened this morning to allow the transfer of 120 trucks humanitarian aid. However, in the morning's rocket volley, the crossing was targeted. The IDF was forced to temporarily close the crossing to ensure the safety of all those working at the crossing and passing through it.
9:30 a.m.: IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Yoav (Poly) Mordechai attributed the morning's volley of rockets to Hamas, as opposed yesterday's rocket fire that was attributed to Islamic Jihad Popular Resistance Committees. Explanation for this morning's relatively heavy rocket fire could come from the severity of the air strikes in Gaza during the night or it could be a show of strength ahead of negotiations for a cease fire.
IDF Spokesperson noted that this morning, in the Atatra neighborhood, two rocket launching cells were destroyed. "During the night we attacked and hit one hundred targets, including a financial center controlled by Hamas. We also struck the house of several senior officers within the terror organizations, of the rank of company commander and battalion commander. We struck a number of smuggling tunnels, along with 6 underground launch sites," said Brig. Gen. Mordecahi.
Yesterday, the IDF killed 12 terrorists during our operation over the Gaza Strip. The bulk of rocket fire is now coming from densely populated areas in the north of the city and from within refugee camps. According the IDF Spokesman, "We assume the rocket fire will continue today, and with it we will continue strike these cells. We will continue to operate even in these areas, and will adjust the armament used in order to avoid harm to innocent bystanders." Brig. Gen. Mordechai addressed yesterday's strike against the Gaza media building, saying a warm room had been set up by the Islamic Jihad. "We know that one of the four activists in the room was killed and the other three were wounded," he said.
6:40 a.m.: Overnight, the IDF targeted approximately 100 terror sites, including underground rocket launchers, terror tunnels and ammunition storage facilities.
The IDF has targeted several buildings that were used by terror operatives as command and control centers, as well as approximately ten terror tunnels that were used as hideouts by Hamas operatives.
A financial institution used by Hamas to fuel its terror activity was targeted in the northern Gaza Strip.
The Israeli Navy targeted terror sites on the central Gaza shore line. Direct hits were identified. Additionally, IDF soldiers carried out artillery fire towards suspicious areas within the Gaza Strip.
2:45 a.m.: The IDF has released a video showing the life of reservists mobilized in the south. Click here to watch the video.
1:30 a.m.: The IDF has a released a video recapping the sixth day of Operation Pillar of Defense, view the video here.
12:10 a.m.: The IDF has released another video of pilots delaying airstrikes due to uninvolved civilians in the area. Click here to watch the video and read about how the IDF takes care to avoid harming Gaza's civilians.
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