QASSAM SHOOTS ISRAELI F16 WARPLANE

Al-Qassam fighters with anti-aircraft rockets. Photo: Al Qassam

Gaza, 25 Ramadan 1435/23 July 2014 (MINA) – Gaza fighters Ezzeddine al-Qassam Brigade, military wing of resistance movement Hamas said they had shot Israeli F16 warplane with “Air Missile” rockets in the air of Dier Balah, central of Gaza, Tuesday evening at 19.40 p.m local time.

The announcement broadcasted by al-Qassam’s official media and some local media (both radio and television). Al-Aqsa radio soon stated that the Israeli occupation authorities admitted their F16 warplane shot in Gaza.

Up to now, Israeli attack is still ongoing throughout Gaza Strip, especially in northern of the city. Sound of their tanks and drones still heard clearly. They got fierce resistance from Palestinian fighters.

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Meanwhile, al-Qassam announced that they had killed at least 52 Israeli soldiers in some areas in Gaza border. Al-Qassam claimed that this number did not include soldiers killed in the tanks and some other military target operations.

Al-Qassam also confirmed that the Israeli occupation soldiers who were killed, are from the elite force as “Golani, Egooz and Paratrooper.

The Hamas ground operation into Israeli territory is “a critical development” in the conflict. A spokesperson from Hamas, Fawzy Barhoum, said in a brief statement quoted by Turkey’s Anadolu news agency that this tactic has shocked the Israeli enemy. “Israel has had to abort its plans,” he claimed. “We have confused its calculations,” Fawzy said as quoted by MEMO.

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The military wing of Hamas, the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, also announced on Saturday evening the killing of 11 Israeli soldiers in two operations inside Israel. One Al-Qassam fighter was killed during one of the operations.

Israel has not responded to Hamas’s claim. However, it did announce the death of two soldiers, including one senior officer.

Meanwhile, Egypt’s strategic military expert General Safwat El-Zayat said the Israeli occupation army’s decision to initiate the ground operation is clear evidence of its failure to suppress the Palestinian resistance through the aerial operation waged against the enclave for nearly two weeks.

In an interview with Al-Jazeera Mubasher Misr, El-Zayat pointed out that the Israeli occupation army is trying to create a safe area on the outskirts of Gaza because it is afraid of the anti-tank missiles system possessed by the Palestinian resistance.(L/K01/Syt/P04)

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Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)