Operation Pillar of Defense

Part of Gaza–Israel conflict

Iron Dome launches during operation Pillar of Defense

Date

14–21 November 2012
(1 week)

Location

Gaza Strip

Israel
30°40′N 34°50′E / 30.667°N 34.833°ECoordinates: 30°40′N 34°50′E / 30.667°N 34.833°E

Result

Ceasefire, both sides claim victory

According to Israel, the operation "severely impaired Hamas's launching capabilities."
According to Hamas, their rocket strikes led to the ceasefire deal
Cessation of rocket fire from Gaza into Israel.
Gaza fishermen allowed 6 nautical miles (11 km; 6.9 mi) out to sea for fishing; reduced back to 3 nautical miles (5.6 km; 3.5 mi) after 22 March 2013

Belligerents

Israel

Militants in the Gaza Strip

Commanders and leaders

Benjamin Netanyahu
Prime Minister
Ehud Barak
Minister of Defense
Benny Gantz
Chief of General Staff
Amir Eshel
Air Force Commander

Yoram Cohen
Director of Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet)

Ismail Haniyeh
(Prime Minister of the Hamas Authority)
Mohammed Deif
(Commander of Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades)
Ahmed Jabari (KIA)
(Deputy commander of Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades)

Ramadan Shallah
(Secretary-General of Palestinian Islamic Jihad)
Abu Jamal
(spokesperson of the Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades)

Strength

Israeli Southern Command and up to 75,000 reservists

10,000 Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades
8,000 Islamic Jihad
Unknown for the rest
10,000 Security forces.

Casualties and losses

2 soldiers killed
20 soldiers wounded

Palestinian figures:
55 militants killed
29 militants wounded

Israeli figures:
120 combatants killed
101 combatants killed (ITIC claim)
62 combatants killed (B'Tselem claim)

Palestinian civilian losses:
105 killed , 971 wounded (Palestinian claim)
57 killed (Israeli claim)
103 killed (UN preliminary estimate)
68 killed (ITIC claim)
87 killed (B'Tselem claim)
8 Palestinians executed by the al-Qassam Brigades

Israeli civilian losses:
4 killed, 219 injured