Left: Mapping the tunnels leading into Israel (IDF Spokesman, July 25, 2014)
Overview
1. During the past 24 hours (July 26, 2014) there was a 12-hour humanitarian ceasefire initiated by the UN. It was honored by both Israel and Hamas and was accompanied by a significant decrease in friction between the IDF and the terrorist organizations operating in the Gaza Strip; the terrorist organizations also did not attack Israel with rocket fire. Gazans used the ceasefire to stock up on food, evacuate bodies and take possessions from areas that had been hit. In addition, teams of Palestinians worked to repair the infrastructure (water, electricity). During the humanitarian ceasefire Gazans exhibited the first signs of shock and amazement as the extent of the destruction and losses were revealed.
2. In the international arena, the American secretary of state and the foreign ministers of several European countries called for the humanitarian ceasefire to be extended for an additional 24 hours. In ITIC assessment their objective was to produce a series of extensions during which negotiations could be held to determine the conditions for a ceasefire. However, Hamas still rejects the Egyptian initiative and refuses to accede to Arab and international appeals for an agreement to end the fighting (Musa Abu Marzouq, deputy head of Hamas’ political bureau said that Hamas would not agree to any ideas not on its own terms, and that it could “stand firm” for a long time). Attempts to achieve a humanitarian ceasefire continued into July 27, 2014.
3. On July 27, 2014 rocket fire into Israeli territory continued and the IDF resumed its air and ground attacks. The IDF continued focusing on exposing and destroying tunnels used for terrorist purposes (so far more than 31 tunnels have been exposed and about half of them have been destroyed).
The Ground Operation
IDF Activity
Overview
4. During the past few days IDF ground activities continued, focusing on exposing and destroying terrorist tunnels. According to the IDF Spokesman, so far more than 30 tunnels have been exposed and about half of them have been destroyed. In addition, 30%-40% of the rockets stockpiled by Hamas and the other terrorist organizations have been destroyed (IDF Spokesman, July 26, 2014).
5. On July 26, 2014, following an appeal from the UN, the Israeli political leadership instructed the IDF to declare a humanitarian window on July 26, 2014 between 0800 and 2000 hours. Hamas also agreed. The IDF Spokesman called on the Gazans not to return to houses in areas they had been instructed to vacate. It was also announced that any attempt to exploit the ceasefire for attacks on IDF soldiers would have serious consequences. It was decided that IDF operational activity related to neutralizing the tunnels would continue during the humanitarian window.
6. However, as soon as the ceasefire ended rocket and mortar shell fire from the Gaza Strip into Israel resumed. Despite the attacks, after a Cabinet meeting, Israel announced it would agree to extend the ceasefire for four hours. Hamas rejected the extension and continued to fire rockets and mortar shells into Israel.
Mines located in a building next of an UNRWA school (IDF Spokesman, July 26, 2014) Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLs6CKVrYAI for the video.
IDF Activity July 24-26, 2014
7. On the morning of July 24, 2014 IDF forces inside a building were attacked with an anti-tank missile launched from the Al-Wafa Hospital, which had been hit the previous day. Two terrorist operatives were killed in the exchange of fire (IDF Spokesman, July 24, 2014).
8. On July 25, 2014 IDF forces continued comprehensive activities in the Beit Hanoun region (northern Gaza Strip). Dozens of terrorist operatives were killed, and weapons caches, anti-tank posts, surveillance headquarters and other terrorist facilities were destroyed. The most important events were the following (IDF Spokesman, July 26, 2014):
a. In the evening IDF forces exposed a number of booby-trapped buildings. Inside were large quantities of weapons and communications equipment.
b. In the afternoon an IDF force, operating in a building in the southern Gaza Strip, found communications equipment, anti-tank missiles and grenades. An IDF force clashed with six terrorist operatives and killed them.
c. In the morning an IDF armored force identified two rocket launchers aimed at Israeli territory. The launchers were positioned near two schools and a mosque. The force fired at the launchers.
d. A Givati Brigade force exposed a house booby-trapped with eight IEDs.
Exposure and Destruction of Terrorist Tunnels
9. During the past few days IDF activity in the Gaza Strip has focused on locating, mapping and destroying tunnels and tunnel shafts used for terrorist purposes throughout the Gaza Strip. According to the IDF Spokesman, so far 31 tunnels and 39 shafts have been exposed, and fifteen of them have been completely destroyed. Destroying the tunnels demands unique professional solutions, depending on the specific nature of each tunnel.
10. The exposure of the tunnels deepened IDF understanding of the underground tunnel infrastructure directed against Israel. Tunnel shafts are located throughout the Gaza Strip, under built-up areas, and on the outskirts of Gaza. They are also located in citrus groves and even under residential buildings. In every tunnel exposed the IDF found between four and ten barrels of explosives and IEDs. The IDF also found handcuffsand sedatives, apparently intended for use in abducting Israelis.
11. Most of the tunnels exposed lead toward Israel. Thus it is clear that in recent years Hamas invested most of its efforts in improving its ability to penetrate into the territory of the State of Israel to be able to carry out terrorist attacks. According to reports from IDF soldiers, all the tunnels had branches, some of them intended for infiltrating terrorist operatives into Israel and some for the storage of large quantities of explosives (IDF Spokesman, July 27, 2014).
12. On the evening of July 24, 2014, an IDF force detained two terrorist operatives who were in a tunnel leading to Israeli territory. In addition, shafts were exposed where large quantities of explosives were stored. On the night of July 25, 2014 an armored force exposed a tunnel shaft. They clashed with a terrorist squad that opened fired on them. The soldiers returned fired, hitting two terrorists.
13. On July 26, 2014, during the 12-hour humanitarian ceasefire, IDF forces, following instructions from the political leadership, continued to destroy terrorist tunnels. During the day IDF forces exposed four more tunnel shafts. In addition they exposed and destroyed a tunnel from which terrorists had emerged and fired an anti-tank missile at an IDF APC on the first day of the ground operation. The tunnel was located near a residential building (IDF Spokesman, July 27, 2014).
Blowing up a tunnel shaft from [from] which terrorist operatives attacked a Golani Brigade APC with an anti-tank rocket (IDF Spokesman, July 27, 2014) Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTVGSacskuY for the video
Air Attacks on Terrorist Targets Continue
14. In addition to the ground operation, the IDF continued attacking terrorist targets from the air. So far, more than 3,670 terrorist targets have been attacked (IDF Spokesman, July 27, 2014). The main events were the following (IDF Spokesman):
1) On the night of July 24, 2014Israeli Air Force (IAF) aircraft attacked 35 terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip. On the morning of July 24, 2014 IAF aircraft attacked a building near the Al-Wafa Hospital, which served as a storehouse for weapons and as a command and control headquarters for the terrorist organizations.
2) On July 25, 2014more than 155 terrorist targets were attacked. In the morning IAF aircraft attacked a terrorist squad that shot at an IDF force. During the night IAF aircraft attacked a number of terrorist organization headquarters. Among them was the building housing the military-terrorist offices of Ra’ed Thabet, senior figures in the artillery unit of Hamas’ military-terrorist wing. Also attacked was the house of Salah Abu Hasnin, a member of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s (PIJ) military council and head of the organization’s combat information department in the Rafah area (IDF Spokesman, July 25, 2014). The PIJ’s military-terrorist wing formally announced that he had died in the attack (Saraya.ps, July 25, 2014).
3) On July 26, 2014, after the humanitarian ceasefire ended and Hamas and the other terrorist organizations resumed their rocket fire, approximately 40 terrorist targets were attacked (IDF Spokesman, July 27, 2014).
IDF Losses
15. Forty-two IDF soldiers have been killed in Operation Protective Edge. One soldier was reported missing in action. The names of those killed recently are the following (IDF Spokesman, July 23, 2014):
1) Sergeant First Class (Res.) Barak Rafael Degorker, 27, from Gan Yavne. Killed by mortar fire from the Gaza Strip.
2) Captain Liad Lavi, 22, from Sde Nitzan. Infantry Corps officer, died from his wounds after being injured in combat in the southern Gaza Strip on Thursday, July 24.
3) Chief Warrant Officer Rami Kahalon, 39, from Hadera. A non-commissioned infantry officer, he died from his wounds after being injured on the Gaza border on Tuesday, July 22.
4) Second Lieutenant Roy Peles, 21, from Tel Aviv. An officer in the Nahal, killed in an attack on an armored vehicle in the Gaza strip.
5) Staff Sergeant Guy Levy, 21, from Kfar Veradim. Soldier in the armored corps, killed in combat in the Gaza Strip.
6) Staff Sergeant Guy Boyland, 21, from Kibbutz Ginnosar. Combat engineer from the armored corps, killed in combat in the southern Gaza Strip.
7) Staff Sergeant Amit Yeori, 20, from Jerusalem. Combat engineer from the armored corps, killed in combat in the southern Gaza Strip.
8) Staff Sergeant Avraham Grintzvaig, 20, from Petah Tikva. A Nahal soldier, killed in combat in the northern Gaza Strip.
9) Staff Sergeant Gal Bason, 20, from Holon. Combat engineer, killed in combat in the northern Gaza Strip.
10) Master Sergeant (Res.) Yair Ashkenazy, 36, from Rehovot. Reserve soldier killed during operational activity in the northern Gaza Strip.
11) Staff Sergeant Oron Shaul, 20, from Poriya. Soldier in the Golani Brigade. Killed on July 20, 2014 and declared MIA. Officially declared by the IDF chief rabbi as a soldier killed in action whose burial site is unknown.
16. Several score additional soldiers have been wounded during the ground operation, some of them critically. They were evacuated to hospitals in the center of Israel.
Rocket Fire into Israeli Territory
17. Heavy rocket and mortar shell fire continues to attack Israel. Since the beginning of the operation approximately 2,095 rockets have fallen in Israeli territory. The Iron Dome aerial defense system intercepted more than 450.
18. During the past three days (July 24-26, 2014), for the first time since the beginning of Operation Protective Edge there was a significant decrease in the amount of rocket fire targeting Israel. During the past three days 110 rockets were identified in Israeli territory. Most of the rockets and mortar shells targeted the western Negev, but there were also barrages fired at the center of Israel.
Daily Distribution of Rocket Fire from the Gaza Strip during Operation Protective Edge[1]
19. The military-terrorist wings of Hamas and the PIJ continue claiming responsibility for most of the rockets and mortar shells fired into Israeli territory and at the IDF forces operating in the Gaza Strip.
The Use Made of Al-Shifa’a Hospital by Hamas and the Other Terrorist Organizations
20. A spokesman for Fatah’s military-terrorist wing in the Gaza Strip claimed that a force of Hamas internal security service detained him as he was preparing for a television interview on the grounds that the uniform he was wore was liable to endanger the area of the interview, especially the Al-Shifa’a Hospital. The Hamas ministry of the interior denied the incident. The ministry of the interior issued an announcement claiming that masked operatives had gone to the hospital and held a press conference. Hamas’ security services asked them to leave so that Israel would not attack the hospital (Felesteen.ps, July 26, 2014).
21. Note: A few days ago Washington Post’s Middle East correspondent Nick Casey posted a picture on his Twitter account showing a Hamas spokesman being interviewed. He is sitting in Al-Shifa’a Hospital in front of a picture of ruins.
The Gazan Population
22. According to ITIC information,947 Gazans have been killed since the beginning of the operation (as of noon, July 27). In ITIC assessment, the number should be increased by about 100 to account for those whose bodies have not yet been removed from under the rubble, bringing the total count to more than 1,000.
23. The distribution (not final, as of noon, July 27, 2014) of the 947 Palestinians killed is as follows:
1) 291 terrorist operatives:
A) 161 Hamas operatives
B) 87 PIJ operatives
C) 43 operatives from other terrorist organizations
2) 301 non-involved Palestinians
3) 355 Palestinians whose identity is not yet known
24. Chris Gunness, UNRWA spokesmanin the Gaza Strip, said that 150,137 Palestinians had vacated their houses and had taken shelter in 84 UNRWA installations throughout the Gaza Strip (Twitter account of Chris Gunness, July 25, 2014).
UNRWA School Hit
25. On the afternoon of July 24, 2014, the Palestinians reported that the IDF had attacked an UNRWA school in Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip, killing 15 Palestinians and wounding several dozen. The IDF responded that the incident was under investigation and that it was not clear whether the school was hit by IDF or Hamas fire. Chris Gunness, UNRWA spokesman in the Gaza Strip, said that in coordination with the IDF an UNRWA team, including international weapons experts, had gone to the school to examine the circumstances of the event (Twitter account of Chris Gunness, July 25, 2014).
26. The Palestinians rushed to issue condemnations and accusations against Israel:
1) Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri claimed that the “fact” that Israel had attacked an UNRWA school was “a reprehensible crime and a bloodletting of international institutions.” He claimed that Hamas would not remain silent. He also claimed that the silence of the international community regarding the incident made it an accomplice (Facebook page of Sami Abu Zuhri, July 24, 2014).
2) The PIJ issued a statement claiming that “the crime of the UNRWA school” showed that Israel aimed its fire at civilians. The statement called it a “crime” that demanded a strong, immediate response (Paltoday.ps, July 24, 2014).
3) The Palestinian Authority’s (PA) national consensus government issued a statement claiming that attack was the continuation of “Israel’s war crimes” and “disregard for international conventions” (Wafa.ps, July 24, 2014).
27. The United States and the UN Secretary Generalexpressed shock and concern over the attack on the school and called on both sides to do their utmost to protect the civilian population (AFP.com, July 24, 2014). Egypt also issued a condemnation (Masrawy, July 25, 2014).
The Crossings – Update
The Erez Crossing
28. The Erez crossing is open for the passage of patients seeking medical care at the field hospital set up by the IDF. However, few Palestinians have taken advantage of it, despite the distressing medical conditions in the Gaza Strip. That was apparently because Hamas has forbidden the populace to go to the Erez crossing for treatment. Over the weekend only nine Palestinians went to the hospital (Cogat.idf.il, July 27, 2014).
The Kerem Shalom Crossing
29. Since the beginning of Operation Protective Edge 979 trucks carrying food, medicine and medical equipment have entered the Gaza Strip through the crossing. Diesel fuel for the Gaza Strip power plant, gasoline and cooking gas have also been delivered. The humanitarian ceasefire was used to repair electrical and water facilities for the Palestinian population (Cogat.idf.il, July 27, 2014).
The Rafah crossing
30. The Egyptian authorities allowed humanitarian aid to enter the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing. Aid convoys arrived from Morocco, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and other countries. Most of the deliveries were of medical equipment (Maannews.net, July 25, 2014).
Judea and Samaria
Terrorist Attack Prevented
31. On the morning of July 27, 2014, Border Police soldiers stopped a vehicle at the roadblock near Beitar Illit (10 kilometers, or about 6 miles, south of Jerusalem). The soldiers stopped the vehicle because the driver was acting suspiciously. They told him to turn off the motor, and when he did not comply, one of the soldiers turned it off himself. The driver turned the engine back on and with the soldier half inside the window, he began driving away. After a short drive the soldier took out his weapon, cocked it, aimed it at the driver and ordered him to stop. The driver stopped the car and the soldiers detained him and took him for questioning. An examination of the car revealed that it had been booby-trapped with several gas bottles and pipe bombs containing large quantities of explosives (Facebook page of the Israel Police Force, July 27, 2014).
Violent Clashes Continue in a Show of Solidarity with the Gaza Strip
32. Recently, primarily since the beginning of the ground operation in the Gaza Strip, there has been an increase in riots held in Judea and Samaria. They peaked on the night of July 24, 2014, when the Palestinians marked laylat al-qadr and the last Friday of the Muslim religious month of Ramadan. Hamas encouraged the Palestinians in Judea and Samaria to participate in violent confrontations and called on them to show solidarity with the Gazans. There were riots in many cities in Judea and Samaria. The Palestinian media reported that six Palestinians had been killed during the riots, as follows:
33. On the evening of July 24, 2014 demonstrations and marches began at a number of locations in Gaza Strip as acts of solidarity with the Gazans. The most prominent event occurred at the Qalandia roadblock (north of Jerusalem) where violent confrontations developed between IDF forces and several thousand Palestinian rioters who approached the roadblock. Two young Palestinian men were killed by IDF fire. In the Old City of Jerusalem Israeli security forces detained approximately 20 Israeli Arabs who threw rocks and firecrackers at policemen. Five policemen were injured.
34. On July 25, 2014, the violence continued throughout Judea and Samaria. A young Palestinian man was killed at the Jalama roadblock near Jenin during a march where, according to the IDF, demonstrators shot at IDF forces and threw Molotov cocktails and burning tires at them. In the early afternoon hours several hundred Palestinians rioted in Hawara (near Nablus), throwing burning tires at the IDF soldiers. The Palestinians claimed that two demonstrators had been shot to death. An officer in the Border Police was wounded by a rock thrown at him (Ynetnews.co.il, July 26, 2014).
35. On July 26, 2014, dozens of masked young Palestinians threw rocks and shot firecrackers at several neighborhoods in Jerusalem. Molotov cocktails were also thrown at the light rail public transportation system. Police dispersed the rioters; one policeman sustained minor injuries. In the evening Palestinians threw rocks, burning tires and Molotov cocktails at IDF forces near Bayt Fajar (south of Bethlehem).
36. Hamas has tried to incite violence and terrorism in Judea and Samaria. Izzat al-Rishq, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, called on all the Palestinians in Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem to rise up against Israel. Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum praised the mass awakening in support of the Palestinians, claiming it was “an act of resistance” that had to continue and spread to all the cities in Judea and Samaria (Palestine-info.info, July 25, 2014). Hamas spokesman Husam Badran said that showcase suicide bombing attacks had originated in Judea and Samaria for years, as has stabbing, shooting and vehicular attacks. He called on the residents of Judea and Samaria to act against Israel and the settlers (Al-Aqsa TV, July 16, 2014).
Contacts for a Humanitarian Pause and a Ceasefire
37. In Paris a meeting was held on July 26, 2014, attended by the foreign ministers of the European countries and John Kerry, the American secretary of state. They called for an extension of the humanitarian ceasefire which would make it possible to hold a dialogue for a permanent ceasefire that would meet the demands of both Israel and the Palestinians (AFP.com, July 26, 2014).
38. Israel said it was ready to continue the humanitarian ceasefire of July 26, 2014. However, as soon as it ended, Hamas and the other terrorist organizations resumed their rocket and mortar shell attacks. In the early afternoon on July 27, 2014, after the Palestinians continued firing rockets and mortar shells, Israel resumed its attacks on the Gaza Strip. Hamas appealed to Robert Serry, the UN envoy to the Middle East, and asked for a pause. Hamas reportedly claimed it agreed to a 24-hour humanitarian ceasefire that would go into effect at 1400 hours. As of noon, Israel had not responded to the appeals and rocket fire into Israel continued (Ynetnews.co.il, July 27, 2014).
39. Khaled Mashaal, head of Hamas’ political bureau, reiterated Hamas’ interest in a ceasefire but only on the condition that at the same time Hamas received a promise that the siege would be lifted from the Gaza Strip. He claimed the Gaza Strip needed an airport and a sea port, and that that they did not want to be ruled by a border crossing that had turned the Gaza Strip into a prison (BBC, July 24, 2014).
40. Musa Abu Marzouq, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, said that Hamas would not agree to ideas that did not meet its demands and conditions for a ceasefire. He said Hamas would not agree to a solution that did not meet “the conditions of the resistance” (Aa.com.tr, July 26, 2014).
The Political-Lawfare-Propaganda Campaign
Appointment of an International Investigation Commission
41. On July 23, 2014, the UN Human Rights Council decided to appoint an international commission of inquiry to examine war crimes Israel may have committed during Operation Protective Edge. Twenty-nine countries voted in favor and 17 abstained (EU countries). Only the United States voted against. Following the adoption of the resolution, the commission’s mandate, members and schedule now have to be determined.
42. The Arab-Muslim worldwelcomed the resolution:
1) The Organisation for Islamic Cooperationpraised the resolution and expressed regret at the objection of the United States (BNA, July 24, 2014).
2) Turkish prime minister Erdogansaid that if Israel continued its activity in the Gaza Strip Turkey would fight to try Israel in international courts. He repeated previous accusations that Israel’s actions were like Hitler’s and that as opposed to the rest of the world, Turkey would not remain silent in the face of Israel’s activities (World Bulletin, July 24, 2014).
3) Bülent Yildirim, head of the Turkish IHH(the extremist Islamist organization responsible for the Mavi Marmara flotilla, May, 2010), held a press conference where he threatened that he would sent another flotilla to the Gaza Strip and this time it would be accompanied by the Turkish navy (IHH.org.tr, July 21, 2014).
4) The Al-Mizan Center and the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR), which operate in the Gaza Strip, issued a joint press release praising the resolution of the Human Rights Council to appoint a commission of inquiry (Facebook page of the PCHR, July 24, 2014). Note: Both organizations are active in the lawfare campaign against Israel and were an important factor in providing the Goldstone Commission with false information after Operation Cast Lead.
Jerusalem Day Devoted Entirely to the Gaza Strip
43. On July 25, 2014, the final Friday of the Muslim religious month of Ramadan, Iran and other countries marked Jerusalem Day. This year Jerusalem Day was exploited for shows of solidarity with the Gazans and for condemnation of Israel for its activity in the Gaza Strip. Mass marches were held throughout Iran, with marchers chanting slogans against Israel and the United States and burning Israeli and American flags. Senior Iranian figures gave speeches and called for the destruction of Israel and the arming of the Palestinians in Judea and Samaria to fight Israel. Khamenei gave a speech two days before Jerusalem in which he called for “the destruction of the Zionist regime,” later repeated on signs carried by marchers and in speeches by senior Iranian figures given during the ceremonies.
Left: Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu and American President Barack Obama as vampires (Demotix.com, July 25, 2014). Right: Burning the Israeli flag on Jerusalem Day in Iran (Novinte.com, July 25, 2014).
Jerusalem Day in Iran (Demotix.com. July 25, 2014)
Hassan Nasrallah Promises to Support the Palestinian Terrorist Organizations in the Gaza Strip
44. For World Jerusalem Day Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah gave a speech in which he related extensively to the events in the Gaza Strip. He praised the achievements of the Palestinian [terrorist] organizations, called for pressure not to be exerted on them to reach an agreement without “the lifting of the siege,” praised the support Iran, Syria and Hezbollah had given the various organizations and assured the Gaza Strip that Hezbollah felt they shared a destiny and promised future support in all areas.
45. The following are the main points made by Nasrallah regarding the developments in the Gaza Strip (Al-Manar, July 25, 2014):
1) Operation Protective Edge (the so-called “the Israel terrorist war”) is meant to make the Gaza Strip surrender and disarm Hamas, the PIJ and the other organizations operating in the Gaza Strip (“the objective is every tunnel in Gaza, every rocket in Gaza, every Kalashnikov in Gaza…”)
2) Israel is slaughtering women and childrenin the Gaza Strip, destroying buildings, schools and mosques and expelling people from their houses. It is all being done with the support of the United States and because of the silence of the international community and some of the Arab states.
3) It is already clear that “the resistance has won in Gaza,”because after 18 days Israel (“the Zionists”) have not succeeded in realizing even one of its goals despite the fact that the Israeli army is one of the strongest armies in the world. The Israelis have not succeeded in damaging the Gaza Strip’s command and control system, their ground operation has failed, and they are afraid to extend it. As opposed to the Israelis, the organizations in the Gaza Strip have hit every area of Israel, even deeper inside than what Hezbollah managed [in the Second Lebanon War]. The IAF has failed [according to Nasrallah’s claims] to tip the scales in the campaign and that Israel’s intelligence has failed to acquire information about the capabilities of the various organizations (include everything relating to the storage, launching and manufacturing of rockets, and their locations in the tunnels.)
4) All Arab and Islamic governments must “adopt as a goal the lifting of the siege of the Gaza Strip”as a condition for stopping the fighting, according to the demand of “the leadership of the Palestinian resistance” [i.e., to adopt Hamas’ demands]. Therefore, “the leadership of the Palestinian resistance” [i.e., Hamas] must be defended from the pressures exerted on it [a hint directed primarily at Egypt] to agree to a ceasefire without having achieved its goal.
5) “It is necessary to support” the Palestinian organizations operating in the Gaza Strip “politically, morally, with propaganda, financially and materially.” That support must include weapons, “each one according to his ability,” without sensitivities or quarreling. For years Iran, Syria and Hezbollah have not spared any effort to help the various organizations in the ways mentioned above, as well as with weapons, training and varied knowhow. Hezbollah has not spared any support and aid to the Palestinian organizations, and shares a common destiny with them. Hezbollah is following the developments in the Gaza Strip and will do its duty in every sphere.
NOTE
[1]The graph indicates rocket hits in Israeli territory and does to include the massive mortar shell fire into the western Negev or rocket launches that failed.
* Originally published on the Meir Amit website as Operation Protective Edge – Update No. 13 (As of 1200 hours, July 27, 2014)