The Operation Days of penitence (in Hebrew: מבצעימיתשובה) is the name of a Israeli military operation carried out by Tsahal in the north of the Gaza Strip, of the September 30th to the October 15th 2004.

Context

The operation proceeded mainly in the towns of Beit Hanoun/Beit Lahia and in the Palestinian camp of Réfugiés of Jabaliya, which were used as launching bases of rockets Qassam and of mortars towards the Israeli city of Sderot and towards Jewish establishments in the Gaza Strip. The operation followed the death of two children in the town of Sderot, following one of these explosions.

Human account

The operation involved the death from 104 to 133 Palestinians and of 5 Israél iens (two soldiers and three civilians). Hundreds of buildings were destroyed or damaged during the operation. According to the Israeli soldiers, the majority of the 77 demolished houses were used by the Palestinian activists for launchings of rockets and mortars.

Israeli charges against the UNRWA

During meetings of the Safety advice of the the United Nations, Israel showed the United Nations Relief and Welfare Agency (UNRWA) of complicity in the Palestinian attacks by allowing the use of its vehicles to transport rockets. A video was diffused to show the loading of rockets in an ambulance of the UNRWA. The Agency rejected these charges like unfounded and endangering its ambulances and required excuses, indicating that the transported object was a stretcher. October 6th, Israel withdrew its charge (Reuters) but this episode made following other controversies between Israel and one of the leaders of the Agency, Peter Hansen.

End of the operation

The the United States imposed their veto on the resolution suggested the October 5th by UNO to condemn the Israeli action, because it did not mention the terrorist activities against Israelis .

The Israeli army withdrew inhabited areas around the October 17th and redeployed in the vicinity, regarding the operation as a success, but reserving the possibility of turning over in the Palestinian cities if rocket fires continued.

The Hamas, by its spokesperson Ismaël Haniyeh, is delighted by the Israeli withdrawal and regarded it as a victory of the resistance and firmness of the Palestinian people .