Israeli Air Force Lashes Gaza in Airstrike Bombardment

The air campaign bombardment directed on the occupied Palestinian territory—one of the most densely populated areas in the world with a population of about 2.3 million in an area of about 141 square miles—prompted calls by humanitarian groups for a cease-fire to spare civilians.

In the days since Islamic militant group Hamas staged a multifront surprise attack, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) has dropped about 6,000 bombs on what it said were Hamas targets, it confirmed Thursday.

In a video clip posted on social media, an open-source intelligence account claimed an AH-64 Apache struck Hamas with 30 mm chain gunfire and Hellfire missiles, Newsweek reported. 

"Dozens of fighter jets and helicopters attacked a series of terrorist targets on the Hamas terrorist organization throughout the Gaza Strip," IAF said Thursday, adding that five neighborhoods suffered extensive and heavy damage.

Photos provided by the IAF show whole city blocks reduced to rubble, with streets carpeted by mortar chunks, downed wires, and twisted sheet metal.

"The airstrikes killed hundreds of terrorists and attacked over 3,600 targets, including command and control targets, strategic military infrastructure, weapons production sites, intelligence assets, leadership targets, naval superiority targets, and rocket system targets," IAF said.

Said Major General Tomer Bar, commander of the Israeli Air Force: "We have a list of everyone who participated in the heinous crimes. And you know the Air Force—we will reach everyone."

Days before the past weekend's brutal attack, however, Bar was dealing with a manpower shortage after more than 1,100 IAF reservists, including more than 400 reserve pilots who were on strike in protest to judicial reforms in Israel.

Despite the earlier strikes, the air force's readiness is not an issue, an Israel Defense Forces spokesperson told FLYING.

"We cannot elaborate on the IAF assets or the combat operations," the spokesperson said. "As of the military readiness, it was not harmed by the reserves statements. The IAF is qualified and ready for any scenario." 

The United Nations Human Rights Office said that Israeli airstrikes across Gaza have hit large residential buildings and schools, which operate as shelters for displaced families. Strikes also hit the building housing the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), an organization of aid and medical workers with a presence in the Gaza Strip since the 1950s.

“International humanitarian law is clear: The obligation to take constant care to spare the civilian population and civilian objects remains applicable throughout the attacks,” Volker Türk, U.N. high Commissioner for human rights, said Tuesday.