IDF strike kills senior Islamic Jihad member; rocket hits home in Ashkelon

Day 18 shows few signs of a cease-fire: Forces kill 40 terrorists, including senior Islamic Jihad military commander and spokesman Salah Abu Hasnin; rocket barrage across country, home damaged in South.

By JPOST.COM STAFF, YAAKOV LAPPIN
IDF releases footage its says shows aerial strikes aborted in Gaza to prevent civilian casualties. (photo credit: screenshot)
IDF releases footage its says shows aerial strikes aborted in Gaza to prevent civilian casualties.
(photo credit: screenshot)
The IDF and Shin Bet struck the Rafah home of senior Islamic Jihad member Salah Abu Hasnin on Friday morning. Hasnin, a member of Islamic Jihad's supreme military council, was killed in the attack. Hasnin was also the head of Islamic Jihad's spokesman division in Rafah.
Just before noon on Friday, a number of rocket sirens sounded around the country, including in towns surrounding Tel Aviv and in the Sharon Region.
Interceptions by the Iron Dome were reported above Ashkelon. Despite the missile defense system, however, a rocket landed on a home in Ashkelon and caused damages. No injuries were reported.
Earlier on Friday, the Armored Corps Unit uncovered a tunnel shaft. The unit came under fire near the tunnel by a terror cell, and returned fire. Two terrorists were killed.
An additional armored unit then uncovered a booby-trapped home filled with explosives, as well as underground rocket launchers.
Overnight between Thursday and Friday, the IDF struck several command and control posts used by Gazan terror organizations It also struck Hamas's domestic security ministry, and the military office of Ra'ad Thabat, a senior weapons production operative in Hamas.
The IDF said on Friday morning that it killed or wounded 40 terrorists in the past 24 hours. The names of eight Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists killed were released in a statement by the IDF Spokesperson's Office:
Haphet Mahmad Hemed was a Senior Islamic Jihad commander for the Beit Hanoun area. He was responsible for the rocket fire toward Sderot that lead up to Operation Protective Edge.

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Hassin Abbad Elkhader Mahsin was a senior Islamic Jihad commander for the Sajaiya area.
Ahram Sha'er was a senior Islamic Jihad commander for the Khan Yunis area. Born in 1973, he was involved with executing terror attacks and rockets fired at Israel.
Mahmoud Ziada was a senior Islamic Jihad commander in the Jabaliya area, responsible for building up rocket supplies and took part in anti-Israel fighting and rocket attacks toward Israel.
Osama Alhiya was a Hamas commander in the Sajaiya area. He was the son of Halil Alhiya, a senior official in Hamas' national assembly.
Muhammad Shabban was a senior commander in Hamas' naval forces
Ahmed Sahmud was a commander in Commander in Khan Yunis.
Abdallah Al'ahras was a Hamas military commander.