Israeli military official claims 'Al-Jaabari has a lot of blood on his hands'

Ahram Online , Wednesday 14 Nov 2012

Avital Liebovich, Israeli military spokesperson, claims strike is initial response to thousands of rockets fired since 2001

Gaza
Columns of smoke rise following an Israeli air strike in Gaza City, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012. (Photo: AP)

Israel's military spokesperson Avital Liebovich claimed, late Wednesday, the death of Hamas's top commander Ahmed al-Jaabari and five others, including his son, is a response to the 700 rockets fired into Israel this year and to the thousands of rockets fired since 2001, speaking to Al-Jazeera English news channel.

"Al-Jaabari has a lot of blood on his hands, including his involvement in the Gilad Shalit operation," Liebovich stated.

Liebovich claimed that 20 different sites in Gaza have been hit, which include underground launching pad locations that host a large number of rockets.

"Israel is exercising its right to protect itself; 1 million Israelis are under this fire range," she claimed.  

She stated that all options were on the table, but an escalation of the military operation was expected, as "Hamas would not be allowed to escalate" its rocket fires into Israel.

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