Since the Palestinian factions broke the cease-fire fighting between Gaza and Israel has resumed at such an intensity it is difficult to keep track. The total of rockets fired has literally changed three times whilst I've been writing this.
However at last count 175 rockets and mortars have been fired into Israel. These included the shorter range, less sophisticated Qassam and Grad type rockets which have focused on the areas of Israel on the border with Gaza. It has also included plenty of the longer range, more sophisticated M-75 and M-302 rockets which have succeeded in reaching areas deep inside Israel including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Fortunately due to a combination of the Iron Dome system and well co-ordinated air-raid warnings and bomb shelters there have been no reports of deaths or serious injuries amongst Israeli civilians. There however has been limited damage to property including to a civilian home which received a direct hit in Ashkelon and will probably have to be demolished although the occupants were able to escape injury.
In response the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) have carried out between 50 and 80 air-strikes against targets in Gaza. The overwhelming majority of these have been against rocket launch sites which have largely been located in open areas of farmland rather then in densely populated residential areas. However the IDF have also been carrying out targeted strikes against known militants. This includes two confirmed kills alongside a strike on the home of Mohammad Deif - the head of Hamas' military wing - overnight. Rather displaying the almost reflex bias that has been present throughout this conflict this was initially reported in the western media as; "Woman and child killed in air-strike."
Although I don't think that there is any doubt Deif is a legitimate target for IDF strikes he does rather highlight the complexity of the situation. A very mysterious figure Deif has never been seen in public while not wearing a disguise and I think only one photograph exists of him and that was taken for his university ID some 30 years ago. As a result Israeli intelligence aren't really sure what he looks like and what he does so have only felt comfortable describing him as the head of Hamas' military wing since Adnan al-Ghoul his assistant/rival was killed in 2004. Obviously as a target it is reasonable that Deif would try to keep his identity secret from the Israelis. However he is so secretive I get the impression that Hamas' political wing which is based in Qatar also don't know what he looks like and aren't themselves 100% sure that he is the head of their military wing.
Obviously with such a man of mystery it is incredibly to difficult to tell whether he was killed in the air-strike on his home or not. We do know that a third body was recovered alongside the bodies of Deif's wife and son. FOX News in America are reporting that an unnamed Israeli intelligence official has confirmed that Deif has been killed. Hamas are denying this though and are repeatedly claiming that it is carrying out rockets attacks that Deif has ordered. However the way that Hamas are claiming the rocket attacks will only stop when Deif gives the order for them to stop suggests to me that they know that he won't be around to give such an order.
16:10 on 20/8/14 (UK date).
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