'We are making every effort.' Shakedi
Photo: Hanan Greenberg
Scene of Monday’s attack in Gaza
Photo: AFP
Officials: Civilian deaths in IAF attacks down
Security officials say Monday’s attack, during which Palestinian child, two teens were killed, will be investigated, but add number of innocent civilians hurt in army’s anti-terror operations dropped significantly, Air Force chief: Nothing can be guaranteed; this is a war
A Palestinian child and two teens, ages 10, 15 and 16, were killed in Monday’s Israel Air Force attack in Gaza, along with two Islamic Jihad members. Children were also among those wounded in the strike.
While Hamas is busy with internal politics, Islamic Jihad was quick to threaten with painful revenge, and the western Negev communities are already bracing themselves for more Qassam attacks.
Security sources said that while the attack will be investigated, the targeted killings will continue, and IDF officials said there is a significant drop in the number of innocent civilians hurt during the army’s anti-terror operations.
Commander in Chief of the Israel Air Force, Maj. Gen. Eliezer Shakedi, said Tuesday that the Air Force has been successful in reducing the number of civilian deaths in targeted killing operations, stating that in 2005 one civilian was killed in every 28 attacks, as opposed to 2003, when a civilian was killed once in every 12 IAF targeted killing operation.
Speaking at a Tel Aviv University conference titled “Aerial Strength,” Shakedi said, “We are making every effort so innocent civilians will not be harmed, but nothing can be guaranteed here. This is a war with weapons involved.”
During his speech Shakedi presented a number of videos displaying accurate Air Force strikes in Gaza, during which no innocent civilians were harmed. He added that Air Force attacks are accountable for the deaths of 54 percent of all terrorists killed in 2006, a significant rise from years past.
