Speaking at a Bar Ilan University conference, Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon told the audience that Hamas still has about 20% of its weaponry available, which amount to about 10,000 rockets and mortar shells. The minister admitted that Operation Protective Edge took longer than anticipated, adding he hopes the success achieved in the warfare will become evident in time.

The conference addressed the outcome of the counter-terrorism operation. Ya’alon said over 2,000 Gazans were killed, most being terrorists and not civilians as Abu Mazen stated. He added about 7,000 homes were destroyed. The senor minister added that unlike the post Operation Cast Lead and Pillar of Defense operations, the rocket manufacturing infrastructure was destroyed and this will make building new rockets significantly more difficult.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)