IDF accusing Hamas of rocket attack on Tel Aviv region, pounds its bases

The Palestinian Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Popular Resistance Committees issued a formal statement disowning the rocket attack on the Tel Aviv area on Thursday night, March 14. However, it was obvious that only two organizations possess missiles with the range for reaching the Tel Aviv region from the Gaza Strip, Hamas and Islamic Jihad. There was therefore no point in pushing the blame onto “rogue elements.”
Palestinian sources reported Israeli aircraft overnight Thursday pounded six Gaza targets – all belonging to Hamas – after determining the identity of the terrorist group which launched two rockets against central Israel a few hours earlier. Six locations were hit, according to Palestinian sources, including Hamas’ naval installations near Khan Younes in the south, another position southwest of Gaza City, and bases in the north, from which the rockets were aimed at central Israel. Red alerts in locations adjacent to the Gaza Strip then signaled five new rocket launches.

The high-level emergency security meeting that came later decided that Israel would pull its punches for now. An unnamed official said only: “Decisions were taken” without elaborating.

The most conspicuous element of Israel’s reprisal was that it targeted Hamas alone and ignored the Islamic Jihad, the Palestinian organization closest to Iran and Hizballah. This looked to DEBKAfile’s sources like an attempt to limit the boundaries of the clash to the Gaza Strip alone, rather than letting it ignite other fronts. By Friday morning, both sides appeared to be testing the ground to discover the opposition’s intentions and control the situation before it spins out of control. Therefore, it seems unlikely that the IDF will at this time go for a large-scale ground operation against Palestinian terrorists in the Gaza Strip. Action will be left for now to the air force and possibly the navy. To launch a major ground offensive, the IDF would need at least two-to-three days to call up reserves, transfer troops and get them organized for going in. This may start happening on Friday.

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10 thoughts on “IDF accusing Hamas of rocket attack on Tel Aviv region, pounds its bases

  • Mar 15, 2019 @ 6:36 at 6:36
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    PM Netanyahu is the greatest PM of Israel since the retirement of Moses. At the appropriate time he might strike with IDF onto Gaza and divide in two parts, just like Moses once did with the sea.

    Upon dividing Gaza in two, the land half stays with Israel, the Arab half goes out, and they shall remain separated for ever.

  • Mar 15, 2019 @ 6:53 at 6:53
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    Debka files claims that Netanyahu ordered only Hamas to be targeted and not Islamic state jihad, the organization closest to iran. Netanyahus administration admitted to pulling punches. Raising the question is Netanyahu afraid of Islamic jihad, and did he intentionally not attack them, even though they attacked Israel? If Israel is willing to fight iran in Syria but not in gaza, does that mean that Netanyahu is willing to make Israel suffer anything to keep the myth of the two state solution on life support? Will this fear not obviously be taken advantage of if Israel ever seriously goes after iran, or does this prove that Netanyahu only pretends to want to go against iran? In G-d I trust.

    • Mar 15, 2019 @ 8:04 at 8:04
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      At the funeral of the richest man in town there was a woman crying very loudly.
      “Are you a relative of the deceased?”
      “No.”
      “Then why are you crying?”
      “That’s why!”

      • Mar 15, 2019 @ 10:50 at 10:50
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        I don’t get why he relavence

      • Mar 18, 2019 @ 15:53 at 15:53
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        Funny

  • Mar 15, 2019 @ 9:40 at 9:40
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    Here we go again…..Has nobody the guts to level Gaza , unfortunaly there are elections coming.The never ending story continues.

  • Mar 15, 2019 @ 9:49 at 9:49
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    When has Palestinian groups ever denied responsibility for rocket attacks? Obviously Israeli agents disguised as Palestinians carried out this attack.

    • Mar 15, 2019 @ 10:36 at 10:36
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      Yes, the palestinians are in fact Liddell pink bunny wabbits who love Jews even more than Jewmy Corbyn.

  • Mar 15, 2019 @ 17:23 at 17:23
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    WEAK,WEAK, WEAK IDF…You are real Friends with all Hamas Terrorist Leaders and that’s why you allow them to Live as Normal…..Why Oh Why.??? Because you LIE.
    The Whole World knows you are Weak Lambs that are Great Mates with Hamas…facts not Israeli Fiction

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