The terrorists behind Thursday's coordinated series of attacks in which 8 Israelis were murdered planned to abduct Israeli soldiers and civilians, security officials said. The attacks occurred on Highway 12 the route leading to Eilat in close proximity to the Egyptian border. Security officials who examined the bodies of some of the terrorists said they had in their possession explosives, assault rifles and automatic weapons and handcuffs, indicating they had planned to abduct Israelis and take them back into Gaza. Officials estimate up to 20 terrorists participated in the operation and had planned the attacks for months and said it bared the hallmarks of Hezbollah and Iran.. The terrorists are believed to have divided into three squads: - one compiled information in preparation for the attack, another perpetrated the attacks and a third squad waited with vehicles to take the kidnapped Israelis back into Gaza, officials said. Since Thursday's attack the Air Force has conducted over 25 air strikes in Gaza in response to over 100 Grad missiles and Qassam rockets fired at Israel. Acting on information supplied by Israel's Shin Bet, the Air Force targeted senior members of the Popular Resistance Committee in Gaza who planned Thursday's attack. Those killed included Kamel Nirib, head of the committee's military wing who was involved in numerous terror attacks against Israel. Imad Hamed, a resident of Rafah who was responsible for the organization's military wing, was involved in the abduction of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. He was directly involved in the planning of Thursday's attack. Khaled Shaat another senior member of the organization, was directly involved in Thursday's terror attack as well as numerous rocket attacks against Israel. Khaled Matsri was involved in the abduction of Gilad Shalit and numerous attacks against Israel, the Shin Bet said. On Friday another senior member of the organization Samed Abed was killed when the motorbike he drove was hit in an air force strike.