Israel Gaza Conflict - Operation Pillar of Defense - 2012 { 28 images } Created 24 Nov 2012
Operation Pillar of Defense was an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) operation in the Gaza Strip from 14 to 21 November 2012. It started with the killing of Ahmed Jabari, chief of the Gaza military wing ofHamas. The stated aims of the operation were to halt the indiscriminate rocket attacks originating from the Gaza Strip and to disrupt the capabilities of militant organizations.
The Israeli government said the operation began in response to Gaza militants' rocket fire, and attacks against Israeli soldiers on the Israel-Gaza border.
The IDF stated it targeted more than 1,500 military sites in Gaza Strip. Including rocket launching pads, smuggling tunnels, command centers, weapons manufacturing and storage buildings. Gaza Health officials state that 167 Palestinians had been killed in the conflict by 23 November.
Declaring that Jabari's assassination had "opened the gates of hell", the al-Qassam Brigades and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad further intensified their rocket attacks on Israeli cities and towns.
The Palestinian militant groups fired over 1,456[40] Iranian Fajr-5, Russian Grad rockets, Qassams and mortars into Rishon LeZion,Beersheba, Ashdod, Ashkelon and other population centers; Tel Aviv was hit for the first time since the 1991 Gulf War, and rockets were aimed at Jerusalem. The rockets killed four Israeli civilians and two Israeli soldiers, over 252 Israelis had been physically injured in rocket attacks. Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system had intercepted about 409 rockets.
IDF, in preparation for a possible ground operation inside Gaza Strip, has called for dozens of thousands of reservist soldiers.
The United States, United Kingdom, Canada and other Western countries expressed support for Israel's right to defend itself, and/or condemned the Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel. On 21 November a ceasefire was announced after days of negotiations between Hamas and Israel mediated by Egypt. Both sides claimed victory.
The Israeli government said the operation began in response to Gaza militants' rocket fire, and attacks against Israeli soldiers on the Israel-Gaza border.
The IDF stated it targeted more than 1,500 military sites in Gaza Strip. Including rocket launching pads, smuggling tunnels, command centers, weapons manufacturing and storage buildings. Gaza Health officials state that 167 Palestinians had been killed in the conflict by 23 November.
Declaring that Jabari's assassination had "opened the gates of hell", the al-Qassam Brigades and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad further intensified their rocket attacks on Israeli cities and towns.
The Palestinian militant groups fired over 1,456[40] Iranian Fajr-5, Russian Grad rockets, Qassams and mortars into Rishon LeZion,Beersheba, Ashdod, Ashkelon and other population centers; Tel Aviv was hit for the first time since the 1991 Gulf War, and rockets were aimed at Jerusalem. The rockets killed four Israeli civilians and two Israeli soldiers, over 252 Israelis had been physically injured in rocket attacks. Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system had intercepted about 409 rockets.
IDF, in preparation for a possible ground operation inside Gaza Strip, has called for dozens of thousands of reservist soldiers.
The United States, United Kingdom, Canada and other Western countries expressed support for Israel's right to defend itself, and/or condemned the Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel. On 21 November a ceasefire was announced after days of negotiations between Hamas and Israel mediated by Egypt. Both sides claimed victory.
