Violence and tension between Israel and the Palestinians escalated on Thursday, with Israeli newspaper "Haaretz" reporting an Israeli official stating that the Hebrew state would not abandon the policy of "assassinations" if deemed necessary.
The European Union announced its readiness to contribute to reaching a ceasefire in Gaza if both sides request it. Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered "all actions to maintain high readiness for potential escalation." The Israeli army reported that a soldier was injured during clashes in the West Bank last night. On Thursday, Israel intercepted a missile over Ashkelon, where alert status continues, according to Israeli Channel 12. The channel further reported that an Israeli security official said the body of Palestinian prisoner Khader Adnan would be used in negotiations for the return of Israeli soldiers in Gaza.
**Killing of Jihad Movement Official**
Israel announced early Thursday that it had killed Ali Ghali, the head of the rocket unit of the Gaza-based "Islamic Jihad." The Israeli army stated in a press release that "Ghali was targeted in a joint operation involving the Defense Forces and the Shin Bet," emphasizing that "Ali Ghali was a prominent figure in the organization, responsible for the management of the rocket unit, and played a significant role in directing and executing rocket launches toward Israel, including the recent barrages." The statement mentioned Ghali's role in launching rockets on Israel during operations "Guardian of the Walls" and "Truthful Dawn." A medical source in Gaza confirmed Ghali's death along with two others in an airstrike targeting an apartment in Khan Younis, which resulted in additional injuries.
The Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Jihad Movement, announced its mourning for "Commander Ali Hassan Ghali (Abu Muhammad), a member of the military council and head of the rocket unit, who was martyred in a treacherous Zionist assassination operation early Thursday in Khan Younis, along with several other righteous martyrs."
In the meantime, the Israeli Air Force continued to strike targets linked to the "Islamic Jihad" in Gaza for the third consecutive day, while Palestinian militants fired hundreds of rockets across the border, causing alarm sirens to be triggered as far as Tel Aviv, with Egypt beginning mediation efforts to end the fighting. Alarms also sounded in the settlement of Kisufim near the Gaza Strip. Islamic Jihad spokesman Dawood Shahab told Reuters that "Cairo, which mediated in previous rounds of fighting, has begun to mediate for a ceasefire."
**Israeli Position**
Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen stated on Kan public radio that "Israel is considering Egypt's proposals." Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in radio comments, claimed that "Islamic Jihad received a severe blow," but cautioned that "the campaign is not over yet." The Israeli army announced it had targeted over 130 sites, including rocket launch positions, with explosions reported across the Gaza Strip.
Minutes after the aerial strikes began, alert sirens sounded in Israel, starting in border communities and quickly spreading to Tel Aviv and surrounding areas, 60 kilometers north of Gaza. Netanyahu noted that "over 400 rockets were launched, but a quarter of them failed to reach their target and fell in Gaza," while Israeli army radio reported "the launch of six mortar shells from Gaza toward Israel, two of which were intercepted."
**Hamas**
The joint operations room of Palestinian resistance factions in Gaza, which includes "Islamic Jihad" and the Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas that governs the territory, claimed responsibility for the rocket fire. However, Israeli military officials stated that they had not seen any indication that "Hamas," believed to have a stockpile of hundreds of rockets, fired any missiles itself. They added that "the Israeli strikes were directed solely at targets related to 'Islamic Jihad,' an Iran-backed movement based in Gaza, which has increased its activities in the West Bank over the past year."
**The White House**
The U.S. National Security Advisor urged his Israeli counterpart to work towards de-escalating tensions with Gaza on Wednesday. The White House stated that "National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan emphasized the need for calm during a call on Wednesday with Israeli National Security Council Chairman Tzachi Hanegbi." A statement from the White House indicated that "Sullivan noted ongoing efforts in the region to mediate a ceasefire and stressed the need to ease tensions and prevent further loss of life."
**Casualty Figures**
In preliminary casualty reports, officials from the Palestinian health sector stated that "24 Palestinians in total have died, including at least five women and five children, along with three leaders of 'Islamic Jihad' and four militants, since the beginning of the fighting." Among the deceased is a ten-year-old girl, though the circumstances of her death remain unclear.
