Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Friday denounced Israel's ongoing military strikes in the Gaza Strip as "brutal," but also accused Gaza's Hamas rulers of trying to destroy the Palestinian dream of statehood. "In these days, we can only condemn gravely what happens in our cherished Gaza, this brutal attack on this cherished part of our land, every hour, which targets women, children and elderly," Abbas during Christmas celebrations of Armenian Christians in Bethlehem. Abbas also reiterated his demand that Hamas relinquish control of Gaza, saying that since it took over the area last June, the Islamic group has "destroyed and tries to destroy our dreams, future and national aspirations."
Meanwhile, with the intensified Kassam rocket barrage from the Gaza Strip continuing to pound Negev communities for the fourth consecutive day, the IDF has responded in kind, striking an abandoned building which had once served as the Hamas-run interior ministry. According to Palestinian witnesses and hospital officials, one woman was killed in air strike, and at least 48 people were injured. The building, which was situated in a residential district of the Gaza Strip, sustained severe damage, the witnesses said.
An IDF spokeswoman confirmed the strike, and said it targeted "a Hamas headquarters", and was part of Israel's campaign against the constant firing of rockets from Gaza into Israel. Friday evening's air strike was the second for the day. Hours earlier, the IAF targeted a cell of rocket launchers, killing one civilian and wounding three Hamas operatives.
Also on Friday, Israeli troops from the elite under-cover "Duvdevan" unit killed a top Palestinian terror chief in the West Bank who was affiliated with the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, group with ties to the Fatah movement headed by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
Ahmad Sanakra, a commander in Tanzim, was killed in the Balata refugee camp in Nablus. The PA has in recent months been unable, or at least claims to have been unable, to rein in the renegade group. Sanakra had been on Israel's wanted list for several years but repeatedly eluded capture. However, on Friday he was shot and killed by troops in what the IDF calls the "pressure cooker" tactic: a house where refugees hide is surrounded and the troops call for those hiding inside to give themselves up. Sanakra refused to surrender, however, and an exchange of fire ensued. He was killed and four of his men, also Tanzim members, were taken into custody. A commander in the Judea and Samaria Division, Brig. Gen. Noam Tivon, praised the soldiers of Duvdevan for their achievements over the last few days.
Kassam rockets have continued to rain down on Sderot and other Negev communities throughout Friday. Eight rockets were fired towards Sderot, two of which landed in open fields. Two rockets fired Friday afternoon landed near Havat Hashikmim, a farm owned by hospitalized prime minister Ariel Sharon. The two rockets caused no casualties or damage. Of the four rockets that reached Sderot, one landed near a WIZO center, damaging several cars in the area.