The Gaza Operation

                                                                                         

Q: In what stages did the operation progress?

A: After exhausting all other alternatives, the IDF launched a military operation on December 27, 2008, which was limited to two objectives: to stop the bombardment of Israeli civilians by destroying Hamas' mortar and rocket launching apparatus and infrastructure, and to reduce the ability of Hamas and other terrorist organizations in Gaza to perpetrate future attacks.

The Gaza operation commenced with aerial strikes on Hamas' terrorist infrastructure, and its rocket and mortar launching units. The Israel Air Force targeted military objectives, using sophisticated precision weapons to minimize the harm to civilians, given Hamas' practice of basing their operations in densely populated areas.

On January 3, 2009, the IDF commenced a ground maneuver because, despite the Israeli aerial attacks, Hamas refused to stop firing on Israeli localities. The aim was to minimize Palestinian casualties among civilians being used by Hamas as human shields.

The operation ended on January 17, 2009 and IDF troop withdrawal from the Gaza Strip was completed on January 21, 2009 in accordance with Security Council Resolution 1860. Since then, and even during the Gaza operation itself, Israel has sought to provide and facilitate humanitarian assistance to Palestinians of the Gaza Strip. The Gaza operation achieved its military objectives: the level of rocket and mortar attacks on Israeli towns decreased significantly.

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