BICOM

According to IDF reports, over 100 sites in Gaza were targeted in airstrikes overnight Monday. Targets included underground rocket launchers, smuggling tunnels, command and control centres and ammunition storage facilities. Palestinian sources report that the Gaza Bank, which was established by Hamas when it came to power 6 years ago, and the al-Shorouq building, which is used by international and Palestinian media, were also hit. The media centre was targetted on two separate occasions yesterday, while four senior Islamic Jihad leaders were reportedly in the building. This resulted in the confirmed death of Ramez Harb, a senior figure in Islamic Jihad’s militant wing, the al-Quds Brigades. The IDF has also reported that its Navy fired at targets on the central Gaza shoreline, which were being used as rocket launching sites.

News services report over 20 Palestinians were killed in strikes yesterday, bringing the total number, according to reports, to 111 – although many figures do not distinguish between civilian casualties and militants in armed groups.

Yesterday’s airstrikes brings the total number of targets struck by Israel in this operation to over 1,350. Israel has now called up 54,000 reservists and continues preparations on the Gaza border for a ground operation. However Netanyahu has said that he will delay the decision to send in troops, pending the outcome of ceasefire talks in Egpyt.