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<div class="header reader-header reader-show-element" dir="ltr"> <font
size="-2"><a class="domain reader-domain"
href="https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/maureen-clare-murphy/israel-pays-dearly-botched-raid-gaza">https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/maureen-clare-murphy/israel-pays-dearly-botched-raid-gaza</a></font>
<h1 class="reader-title">Israel pays dearly for botched raid on
Gaza</h1>
<p class="node__submitted">
<span class="field field-author"><a
href="https://electronicintifada.net/people/maureen-clare-murphy">Maureen
Clare Murphy</a></span> <span class="field field-blog">-</span>
<span class="field field-publication-date"><span
class="date-display-single"
content="2018-11-13T00:26:57+00:00">13 November 2018</span></span>
</p>
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<hr>
<div class="content">
<div class="moz-reader-content line-height4 reader-show-element"
dir="ltr">
<div id="readability-page-1" class="page">
<div>
<article>
<figure id="file-71336"><source media="(min-width:
72rem)"><figcaption><small><span></span></small></figcaption></figure>
<p>At least 10 Palestinian fighters have been killed
since a busted commando operation in Gaza broke a
ceasefire between Israel and resistance factions on
Sunday night.</p>
<p>An Israeli military officer was <a
href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israeli-army-confirms-one-officer-killed-another-wounded-during-gaza-raid-1.6639735">killed</a>
and another moderately wounded in Sunday’s botched
operation that left a Hamas military commander and six
other fighters dead:</p>
<div id="file-71351">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="rtl" lang="ar">الشهداء السبعة الذين ارتقوا
خلال تصديهم لقوة صهيونية خاصة شرق خانيونس مساء
أمس وقتلوا ضابط اسرائيلي كبير وأصابوا آخر<a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%AF?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#بالمرصاد</a>
<a href="https://t.co/tgq1E3XMKe">pic.twitter.com/tgq1E3XMKe</a></p>
— وكالة شهاب (@ShehabAgency) <a
href="https://twitter.com/ShehabAgency/status/1061924260892033024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November
12, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<p>Palestinian groups fired hundreds of rockets towards
Israel Monday night – <a
href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-gears-up-for-more-gaza-fighting-in-response-to-largest-ever-barrage/">described
by Israeli media</a> as the largest ever projectile
barrage from Gaza.</p>
<p>The Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, <a
href="https://twitter.com/qassam_arabic12/status/1062036423405174787">stated</a>
that resistance fighters targeted a bus transporting
soldiers east of Gaza with a Kornet anti-tank guided
missile. A 19-year-old soldier was severely injured,
according to reports.</p>
<p>The group said that the strike was in response to the
killing of seven fighters on Sunday.</p>
<p>Video shows the direct strike on the bus as Israeli
soldiers deployed to the outskirts of Jabaliya in
northern Gaza:</p>
<div id="file-71356">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="rtl" lang="ar">شاهد | استهداف المقاومة
لحافلة نقل جنود اسرائيليين شرق <a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D8%AC%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A7?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#جباليا</a>
بصاروخ كورنيت موجه<a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D8%BA%D8%B2%D8%A9_%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%85?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#غزة_تقاوم</a>
<a href="https://t.co/h0EPnZzu3B">pic.twitter.com/h0EPnZzu3B</a></p>
— شبكة قدس الإخبارية (@qudsn) <a
href="https://twitter.com/qudsn/status/1062106248970203141?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November
12, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<div id="file-71361">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Al Qassam released footage
showing they intentionally targeted a bus of
Israeli soldiers immediately after all but one
had stepped off board. It's a clear message that
the resistance has increased capabilities but
doesn't seek escalation. <a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gaza?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gaza</a></p>
— Hind Khoudary (@Hind_Gaza) <a
href="https://twitter.com/Hind_Gaza/status/1062104532539326465?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November
12, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<p>Israeli official channels had earlier claimed falsely
that the targeted vehicle was a “commuter bus” for
civilians.</p>
<div id="file-71366">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
<p>An Israeli commuter bus hit by <a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hamas?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Hamas</a>
rocket this afternoon. Hamas fired more 100
rockets from <a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gaza?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gaza</a>
targeting Israeli civilians.</p>
<p>Israel will exercise its right to defend its
people. <a href="https://t.co/pw2XJtFOLk">pic.twitter.com/pw2XJtFOLk</a></p>
</div>
— Israel in Chicago (@IsraelinChicago) <a
href="https://twitter.com/IsraelinChicago/status/1062041526606422016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November
12, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<p>A man was <a
href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/ashkelon-man-reported-killed-in-rocket-attack/">found
dead</a> in the rubble of a home, where a woman was
also <a
href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/woman-with-serious-injuries-found-in-rubble-of-ashkelon-home/">found
critically injured</a>, and a second woman was
seriously injured when missiles fired from Gaza hit
residential buildings in Ashkelon, <a
href="https://twitter.com/i24NEWS_FR/status/1062115176915394564">according
to early reports</a>.</p>
<p>Video shows fire in a building that was hit:</p>
<div id="file-71371">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="ltr" lang="de">In einem vierstöckigen
Gebäude, das mit einer <a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hamas?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Hamas</a>-Rakete
in Ashkelon in Israel abgeschossen wurde, brach
ein Feuer aus. 10 Menschen wurden verletzt,
davon 4 schwer. <a
href="https://t.co/f4QD2NoniL">pic.twitter.com/f4QD2NoniL</a></p>
— EHA News - Deutsch (@eha_deutsch) <a
href="https://twitter.com/eha_deutsch/status/1062113692114972673?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November
12, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<p>Most of the rockets landed in open areas and others
were intercepted, Israeli media <a
href="https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/palestinians/breaking-news-israel-and-gaza-exchange-fire-palestinians-killed-bus-destroyed-1.6650643">reported</a>.</p>
<p>Videos uploaded to social media show damage to
Israeli homes struck by rockets from Gaza:</p>
<div id="file-71376">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="rtl" lang="ar">صواريخ المقاومة تصيب منزلاً
للمستوطنين في مستوطنات "غلاف <a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D8%BA%D8%B2%D8%A9?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#غزة</a>"
بشكل مباشر.<a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D8%BA%D8%B2%D8%A9_%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%85?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#غزة_تقاوم</a>
<a href="https://t.co/6AK9hF4GkE">pic.twitter.com/6AK9hF4GkE</a></p>
— شبكة قدس الإخبارية (@qudsn) <a
href="https://twitter.com/qudsn/status/1062037017687719937?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November
12, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<div id="file-71381">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="rtl" lang="ar">حرائق في مدينة <a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D8%B9%D8%B3%D9%82%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#عسقلان</a>
المحتلة، جراء استهدافها بصواريخ المقاومة.<a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D8%BA%D8%B2%D8%A9_%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%85?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#غزة_تقاوم</a>
<a href="https://t.co/3OiDTzDR4g">pic.twitter.com/3OiDTzDR4g</a></p>
— شبكة قدس الإخبارية (@qudsn) <a
href="https://twitter.com/qudsn/status/1062060350676365314?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November
12, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<p>The Israeli military hit more than 70 sites in Gaza
on Monday, including <a
href="https://twitter.com/qudsn/status/1062081333885837312">residential
buildings</a> and a <a
href="https://twitter.com/ShehabAgencyEn/status/1062095700782145537">hotel</a>
that Israel <a
href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/palestinians-say-israeli-aircraft-hit-hotel-in-gaza-city-used-by-hamas/">claims</a>
was used by Hamas for administrative and training
purposes.</p>
<p>Photos show a residential building in Gaza City
before it was bombed and, on the left, after it was
obliterated by Israel, which <a
href="https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1062120501416468482">claimed</a>
that it was used by Hamas’ military intelligence:</p>
<div id="file-71386">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="rtl" lang="ar">"من يوقف حقداً أسود" ..
صورة: لمبنى الرحمة في <a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D8%BA%D8%B2%D8%A9?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#غزة</a>
قبل وبعد قصفه من قبل طائرات الاحتلال.<a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D8%BA%D8%B2%D8%A9_%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%AA_%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%B5%D9%81?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#غزة_تحت_القصف</a><a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D8%BA%D8%B2%D8%A9_%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%85?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#غزة_تقاوم</a>
<a href="https://t.co/lR9kX6vmVJ">pic.twitter.com/lR9kX6vmVJ</a></p>
— شبكة قدس الإخبارية (@qudsn) <a
href="https://twitter.com/qudsn/status/1062087671701479424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November
12, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<p>Israel also targeted the headquarters of the
Hamas-affiliated Al-Aqsa TV in a heavily populated
area of Gaza City:</p>
<div id="file-71391">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Israeli?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Israeli</a>
Air Force destroy <a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hamas?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Hamas</a>
TV al Aqsa completely few minutes ago in the
heart of <a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gaza?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gaza</a>
city <a href="https://t.co/TTZtQu3LVA">pic.twitter.com/TTZtQu3LVA</a></p>
— Nasser Atta (@nasseratta5) <a
href="https://twitter.com/nasseratta5/status/1062065073928241157?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November
12, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<div id="file-71396">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="rtl" lang="ar">طيران الاحتلال يواصل غاراته
على مبنى فضائية الأقصى.<a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D8%BA%D8%B2%D8%A9_%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%AA_%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%B5%D9%81?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#غزة_تحت_القصف</a><a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D8%BA%D8%B2%D8%A9_%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%85?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#غزة_تقاوم</a>
<a href="https://t.co/sT6D5xtQXl">pic.twitter.com/sT6D5xtQXl</a></p>
— شبكة قدس الإخبارية (@qudsn) <a
href="https://twitter.com/qudsn/status/1062063815603470341?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November
12, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<div id="file-71401">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Another photo of the
destroyed al-Aqsa TV building in Gaza. The
building was hit by at least 3 missiles launched
from Israeli warplanes <a
href="https://t.co/p9L79KWgSA">pic.twitter.com/p9L79KWgSA</a></p>
— Jamal Dajani جمال (@JamalDajani) <a
href="https://twitter.com/JamalDajani/status/1062079276332118016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November
12, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<p>The Israeli military <a
href="https://twitter.com/IDFSpokesperson/status/1062076100615041029">stated</a>
on Twitter that “The Hamas propaganda department has
directed attacks, instructed how to do them, and
broadcasted incitement and violence for years.”</p>
<p>The military added: “Tonight, the IDF made sure that
this station won’t broadcast again.”</p>
<p>Al-Aqsa resumed broadcasting from another location
shortly after the bombing briefly took it off the air.</p>
<figure id="file-71346"><source media="(min-width:
72rem)"><figcaption><small><span></span></small></figcaption></figure>
<p>Israel has previously targeted Al-Aqsa TV buildings
and <a
href="https://cpj.org/data/people/hussam-salama/">killed</a>
its personnel in Gaza. The Committee to Protect
Journalists <a
href="https://cpj.org/blog/2014/08/after-journalist-killings-potential-violations-in-.php">has
stated</a> that Al-Aqsa’s affiliation to Hamas does
not make it a legitimate military target.</p>
<div id="file-71406">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Not only as a journalist
who believes journalists should never be
targets, but also as someone who lives within
spitting distance of the IDF's own radio station
(located in a residential neighborhood), I can't
express enough outrage about the bombing of Al
Aqsa TV in Gaza.</p>
— Mike S. Omer-Man (@MikeOmerMan) <a
href="https://twitter.com/MikeOmerMan/status/1062071456086061056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November
12, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<p>The University College of Applied Sciences in Gaza
City was also damaged by bombing:</p>
<div id="file-71411">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="rtl" lang="ar">تضرر مبنى الكلية الجامعية
للعلوم التطبيقية جنوب مدنية <a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D8%BA%D8%B2%D8%A9?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#غزة</a>
جراء استهداف محيطها من قبل طائرات الاحتلال قبل
قليل.<a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D8%BA%D8%B2%D8%A9_%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%85?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#غزة_تقاوم</a>
<a href="https://t.co/mA2ulWDxBF">pic.twitter.com/mA2ulWDxBF</a></p>
— شبكة قدس الإخبارية (@qudsn) <a
href="https://twitter.com/qudsn/status/1062033249080348677?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November
12, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<p>Three Palestinians were killed on Monday, including <a
href="https://twitter.com/PFLP_info/status/1062027351700180992">two
members</a> of the armed wing of the leftist Popular
Front for the Liberation of Palestine. They were
identified as Muhammad Zakariya al-Tatari, 27, and
Muhammad Zuhdi Odeh, 22.</p>
<p>Hamad Muhammad Musa al-Nahhal, 23, was killed by
Israeli forces east of Rafah, <a
href="https://twitter.com/press221/status/1062022218950033408">according
to</a> Gaza’s health ministry. He was <a
href="http://www.wattan.tv/ar/news/268980.html">reportedly</a>
a member of the armed wing of Islamic Jihad.</p>
<p>The Israeli military <a
href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-november-12-2018/">warned</a>
Monday night that Hamas will “feel the power of the
IDF’s response in the coming hours.”</p>
<p>COGAT, the bureaucratic arm of Israel’s military
occupation, made an oblique threat against Gaza’s
residents that it would use the same deadly force
targeting civilian infrastructure that it used in
2014:</p>
<div id="file-71416">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="rtl" lang="ar">أيها <a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%83%D8%A7%D9%86?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#السكان</a>
الغزيون، تأملوا جيدا هذه الصور المأخوذة من عملية
"الجرف الصامد" في العام 2014: صورة تساوي ألف
كلمة. 2/2 <a href="https://t.co/bYCq9Znh54">pic.twitter.com/bYCq9Znh54</a></p>
— المنسق (@CogatArabic) <a
href="https://twitter.com/CogatArabic/status/1062076675662450688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November
12, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<p>It deleted its threats from its English-language
pages:</p>
<div id="file-71451">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a
href="https://twitter.com/cogat_israel?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cogat_israel</a>
deleted its threat to kill thousands of
Palestinians. Here are screenshots. <a
href="https://t.co/HsfeASgTHu">pic.twitter.com/HsfeASgTHu</a></p>
— Dan Cohen (@dancohen3000) <a
href="https://twitter.com/dancohen3000/status/1062093004473856002?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November
12, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<p>Israel’s security cabinet reportedly green-lighted an
escalation of force against Gaza late Monday:</p>
<div id="file-71421">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BREAKING?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BREAKING</a>:
IDF reportedly given 'green light' to amplify
attacks on Gaza, following security cabinet
consultations in which 'operational decisions
were made' <a href="https://t.co/Tolwzbc41r">pic.twitter.com/Tolwzbc41r</a></p>
— i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) <a
href="https://twitter.com/i24NEWS_EN/status/1062059642480664577?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November
12, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<p>The Qassam Brigades <a
href="https://twitter.com/qassam_arabic12/status/1062070465051680768">stated</a>
that resistance groups would widen the scope of their
shelling in response to the targeting of homes and
other civilian infrastructure.</p>
<p>Palestinian fighters <a
href="https://twitter.com/Qudsn_Brk/status/1062071293368037376">launched
a new volley of rockets</a> towards Israel following
the bombing of Al-Aqsa TV headquarters.</p>
<p>Abu Obeida, the pseudonymous Qassam Brigades
spokesperson, <a
href="https://twitter.com/spokesman2018/status/1062094579980095488">said</a>
that “Ashkelon is just the beginning” and that a
million Israelis would be in the range of resistance
factions’ missiles if the aggression on Gaza
continued.</p>
<p>The new round of deadly violence was prompted by an
apparently botched Israeli undercover raid three
kilometers into Gaza Sunday evening.</p>
<p>Qassam commander Nour Baraka was killed during an
intense exchange of fire that ensued after the
discovery of the Israeli commando unit, which
reportedly <a
href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/gaza-israeli-soldiers-hamas-qassam-brigades-54972972">retreated
by helicopter</a> under the cover of airstrikes.</p>
<p>The Qassam Brigades <a
href="https://twitter.com/qassam_arabic12/status/1061871647752380422">claimed</a>
that Israel’s air force struck a commando vehicle as a
means of destroying evidence:</p>
<div id="file-71426">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="rtl" lang="ar">صور للمركبة التي استخدمتها
القوة الخاصة الصهيونية في ارتكاب جريمتها
بخانيونس مساء أمس وقد قصفها الطيران الحربي
لاخفاء الدلائل <a
href="https://t.co/u5bGv0P0uF">pic.twitter.com/u5bGv0P0uF</a></p>
— مقاومة فلسطين (@qassam_arabic12) <a
href="https://twitter.com/qassam_arabic12/status/1061871647752380422?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November
12, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<p>The resistance group published a photo of what it
said was communications equipment found in the back of
a vehicle used by the commandos:</p>
<div id="file-71431">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="rtl" lang="ar"><a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D8%B5%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%A9?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#صورة</a>
غرفة الكترونية تحوي عشرات اللوحات وأجهزة اتصالات
كانت في مؤخرة شاحنة أعدها الاحتلال للقيام بمهمته
الاستخبارية وقصفها خلال عملية مسح الدلائل <a
href="https://t.co/4yXeXEP8Aj">pic.twitter.com/4yXeXEP8Aj</a></p>
— مقاومة فلسطين (@qassam_arabic12) <a
href="https://twitter.com/qassam_arabic12/status/1061879337102786561?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November
12, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<p>Video shows a burned-out vehicle and devices left
behind by the commando unit:</p>
<div id="file-71436">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="rtl" lang="ar">الأجهزة التي كانت بداخل
مركبة قوات الاحتلال الخاصة التي اشتبكت مع
المقاومة شرق <a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D8%AE%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%86%D8%B3?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#خانيونس</a>
الليلة الماضية.<a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D8%BA%D8%B2%D8%A9?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#غزة</a>
<a href="https://t.co/6YbLHZLTtG">pic.twitter.com/6YbLHZLTtG</a></p>
— شبكة قدس الإخبارية (@qudsn) <a
href="https://twitter.com/qudsn/status/1062035467187744769?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November
12, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>Israeli officials claimed that the military operation
was “likely an intelligence-gathering mission gone
wrong, rather than an assassination attempt on Baraka,
as Hamas initially claimed,” as <a
href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-confirms-special-forces-officer-killed-another-injured-in-gaza-raid/">reported</a>
by <em>Times of Israel</em>.</p>
<p>The Israeli military made such a denial on Twitter:</p>
<div id="file-71441">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The special operation
yesterday was not intended to kill or abduct
terrorists, but to strengthen Israeli security.
The force waged a heroic and very complex battle
and was able to exfiltrate in its entirety. We
salute the bravery of Lt. Col. M. and his peers.</p>
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDFSpokesperson) <a
href="https://twitter.com/IDFSpokesperson/status/1061875025521926144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November
12, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>“This action – an operation that was apparently
exposed – wasn’t an assassination attempt,” Tal Russo,
former commander of the Israeli military in the Gaza
region, said. “We have other ways of assassinating
people and we know how to do it much more elegantly.”</p>
<p>Israel has habitually violated ceasefires with
Palestinian resistance groups in Gaza. Several
Palestinians, including children, <a
href="https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/maureen-clare-murphy/israel-kills-children-and-protester-despite-ceasefire">were
killed in Gaza after the most recent truce</a>
between Israel and resistance factions, before
Sunday’s botched operation.</p>
<p>Israeli assassinations of Palestinian political and
military figures have previously <a
href="https://electronicintifada.net/content/max-blumenthals-unflinching-book-gaza-war-must-not-be-ignored/14615">provoked
major military confrontations</a> with high
Palestinian civilian casualties.</p>
<figure id="file-71341"><source media="(min-width:
72rem)"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
<p>Ten years ago almost to the day, an Israeli raid on
Gaza that <a
href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/nov/05/israelandthepalestinians">killed
six members</a> of Hamas ended a months-long
ceasefire, leading to Israel’s “<a
href="https://imeu.org/article/operation-cast-lead">Operation
Cast Lead</a>” that killed more than 1,400
Palestinians.</p>
<p>On Monday, Nickolay Mladenov, the UN’s Middle East
envoy, <a
href="https://twitter.com/nmladenov/status/1062062406212427776">stated
on Twitter</a> that his office was “working closely
with Egypt and all concerned to ensure that Gaza steps
back from the brink,” obscuring the fact that it was
an Israeli commando operation in Gaza that
precipitated the new round of hostilities.</p>
<p>“The escalation in the past 24hrs is EXTREMELY
dangerous and reckless,” he added. “Rockets must STOP,
restraint must be shown by all! No effort must be
spared to reverse the spiral of violence.”</p>
<p>Similarly, the European Union stated that the
“escalation of violence” in and around Gaza was “very
alarming,” but failed to note that Israel began it by
launching its raid into Gaza.</p>
<div id="file-71446">
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<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The escalation of violence
in and around Gaza during the last hours is very
alarming. All violent actions have to stop
immediately. <a href="https://t.co/6QfsQFuAiQ">https://t.co/6QfsQFuAiQ</a></p>
— Maja Kocijančič (@MajaEUspox) <a
href="https://twitter.com/MajaEUspox/status/1062063830006669312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November
12, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>Before Israel broke the ceasefire on Sunday, its
forces had killed 234 Palestinians in Gaza since the
launch of mass protests demanding an end to the
11-year blockade on the territory more than seven
months ago.</p>
<p><a href="http://mezan.org/en/post/23313">According to</a>
the Gaza-based rights group Al Mezan, 174 of those
killed were fatally injured during demonstrations,
“including 33 children, one woman, two journalists,
three paramedics, and six persons with disability,
including one child.”</p>
<p>Nearly 12,500 Palestinians have been wounded, almost
7,000 by live fire. Israel continues to hold the
bodies of 11 of those killed, including three
children.</p>
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