In a new cycle of violence in the Gaza Strip, Israeli warplanes launched intensive airstrikes targeting leaders of "Islamic Jihad."
Palestinian officials announced that Israel killed three senior leaders of the "Islamic Jihad" movement in airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, while the Israeli army confirmed it conducted an operation against the movement before dawn on Tuesday. In its first comment on the killing of its leaders in the Israeli airstrikes, the "Islamic Jihad" movement vowed to respond and not show leniency. The movement stated in a brief statement today, "The Palestinian response to this heinous massacre will not be delayed, and the Al-Quds Brigades and the resistance will never relent in the face of this pure bloodshed."
For his part, Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid praised the military operation by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip, deeming that "the account is closed with the leaders of the Islamic Jihad movement." Lapid tweeted: "The Israeli response is at the place and time suitable for us, after gathering intelligence and tracking the movements of Islamic Jihad leaders in Gaza, the account has been closed with them."
Rescue workers reported that the airstrikes resulted in the deaths of at least twelve Palestinians, including three civilians, and many others were injured. It was later announced that a girl died from injuries sustained in the Israeli bombardment, raising the death toll to thirteen. The Gaza Ministry of Health confirmed twelve deaths and twenty injuries in the Israeli airstrikes on the strip. The director of Shifa Hospital announced the activation of an emergency plan to receive the injured, noting that "all medical teams are on high alert." The Israeli army stated that 40 aircraft participated in the operation and targeted three senior commanders of the "Islamic Jihad," the second strongest armed group in the besieged coastal enclave governed by the Islamic Resistance Movement "Hamas." Two sources from "Islamic Jihad" confirmed the fatalities.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry condemned the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, calling for "urgent international intervention to stop Israeli crimes against the Palestinian people," considering this crime "an extension of the open occupation war against our people and its just national rights, and a continuation of attempts by the Israeli government to export its crises to the Palestinian arena and resolve them at the expense of our people's rights. An obvious Israeli attempt to establish the logic of brutal military force in dealing with our people's issue instead of peaceful political solutions to the conflict." The ministry held the Israeli government fully and directly responsible for this aggression and its consequences in the battlefield, deeming it a serious escalation that threatens to blow it up entirely, calling on the "international community for urgent intervention to stop the aggression against our people," asserting that "the political negotiation solution to the conflict is the only path to achieving security and stability on the battlefield."
For his part, Hamas Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh stated that "the assassination of the leaders in a treacherous operation will not bring security to the occupier but more resistance," affirming that "the enemy miscalculated, will pay the price for its crime, and the resistance alone will determine the way to inflict pain on the treacherous enemy." Meanwhile, the Hebrew website "Wynet" reported that "Israel sent a message to Hamas stating that it is not the target of the military operation (Protective Edge) launched by the army on Gaza overnight and is not in the line of fire, and is not considered part of the current round."
Following the operation, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant spoke about "a special situation on the home front," agreeing to call up reserves "for the required sites as needed." Meanwhile, the Israeli Foreign Minister stated on Twitter that he would shorten his visit to India due to "security developments" in Israel. The movement of trains was also halted in southern Ashkelon, and the Home Front Command issued special instructions.
Increased Violence
The death of a Palestinian detainee who had gone on hunger strike in an Israeli prison last week led to exchanges of fire across the border between Israel and armed groups in Gaza for several hours, resulting in the death of a Palestinian.
The airstrikes represent the latest chapter in escalating violence over the past year, with repeated Israeli military raids and increased settler violence in the occupied West Bank amid a series of attacks launched by Palestinians targeting Israelis. More than 90 Palestinians and at least 19 Israelis and foreigners have been killed since January.
An Israeli Defense Ministry unit coordinating civilian affairs with Palestinians, known as "Cogat," announced that two border crossings with Gaza have been closed to the movement of people and goods until further notice.
In anticipation of rocket fire following the deaths of the Islamic Jihad leaders, the Israeli army issued special instructions for Israelis living in towns within a 40-kilometer radius of Gaza to stay near shelters starting from 2:30 AM local time on Tuesday until 6 PM on Thursday.
**Egypt Responds to the Strikes**
Egypt, which has used its open channels with Israel and the Palestinians to mediate several ceasefires in the past, stated that the strikes "contradict the rules of international law and the provisions of international legitimacy."
**Israeli Forces Storm Nablus**
In parallel with the military operation in the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces stormed the old city of Nablus, besieging a house in the Yasmina neighborhood. Reports of clashes emerged between Palestinian youth and Israeli forces, which brought reinforcements to the area. The Israeli army announced the arrest of two Palestinians from the old city of Nablus. The Palestinian health ministry reported that a child was admitted to Rafidia Government Hospital with a gunshot wound to the chest and is in stable condition.
The Israeli army reported an explosion of an explosive device on one of its military vehicles, indicating that one of its soldiers was injured. A video was broadcast showing an explosive device detonating against an "Israeli" jeep in Nablus today, causing damage to it.
Recently, Israeli forces have intensified their operations in the West Bank; yesterday, they carried out a series of raids and arrests in the governorates of Jenin, Qalqilya, Nablus, and Ramallah, storming dozens of homes, searching them, rummaging through their contents, subjecting residents to field interrogations for hours, and arresting a number of Palestinian youths on various charges.
