Comment JERUSALEM — The Israeli military launched airstrikes on targets inside Gaza on Friday, killing an Islamic militant group leader and at least seven others. The attacks followed days of threats by militants in Gaza after Israel arrested an Islamic Jihad leader in the West Bank earlier in the week and threatened a return to open war just a year after hundreds were killed in fighting between Israel and militants in the enclave. The Palestinian Ministry of Health said at least eight people were killed and 44 wounded in two initial strikes, one in Gaza City and another in Khanyounis in southern Gaza. Video posted on social media shows extensive damage to at least one high-rise building. Among the dead was Tayseer Jabari, a top Islamic Jihad leader, according to a statement by Palestinian Islamic Jihad. A 5-year-old girl was also killed, the ministry said. The Israel Defense Forces said shortly after the strikes that they had attacked militants belonging to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza in an operation dubbed “Breaking Dawn.” The first strikes may have targeted leaders of the al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad, according to Palestinian media. New footage shows the precision strike on the part of the apartment housing the Jihad facility and Abu Amsa pic.twitter.com/X6z3SiFFKi — Gaza Report – Gaza News (@gaza_report) August 5, 2022 An Israeli military spokesman said its planes struck after detecting threatening movements by militant forces and equipment, including anti-tank units. The IDF acted in anticipation that Israeli civilians in the area would be targeted for retaliation and has put the central part of the country on alert, he said. The fighters were “running and moving very, very close to the border,” said Lt. Col. Richard Hecht. “We took the initiative and we’re not done yet.” “We assume that there will probably be rocket attacks in the center of the country,” Hecht said. After Friday’s action, the military warned residents within 80 kilometers of Gaza, including Tel Aviv, to be on alert for rocket fire and issued an emergency alert to last until at least Saturday night. Hecht said he had no information on reports that a child was among the dead. Gaza is ruled by the militant group Hamas, usually seen as a rival to Islamic Jihad. But Hamas condemned the attacks. “The resistance, with all its military arms and factions, is united in this battle and will speak out in full force,” the organization said in a statement. “It is no longer possible to accept the continuation of this situation as it is.” The Israeli military had sealed off checkpoints in and out of Gaza and closed roads and restricted movement to nearby Israeli communities as tensions rose in recent days. The move sparked complaints from civilians that they were being held hostage by threats from Gaza and prompted calls from Israeli hardliners for Israel to take action inside the enclave. “The Israeli government will not allow terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip to set the agenda in the area adjacent to the Gaza Strip and threaten the citizens of the State of Israel. Anyone who tries to harm Israel should know: we will find you,” Prime Minister Yair Lapid said in a statement after the strikes. “To our enemies, specifically the leadership of Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, I would like to emphasize that your time is up,” Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said during a tour of the region earlier Friday. Israeli forces arrested Bassam al-Saadi, the leader of Islamic Jihad, after a gunfight in the West Bank city of Jenin on Tuesday. A 17-year-old Palestinian was killed in the exchange. Israel said al-Saadi, 62, was coordinating militant activities in an area known for armed resistance. The exchange marks the most extensive military engagements between the two sides since an 11-day air war a year ago that killed more than 250 Palestinians and 13 people inside Israel. Balousha reported from Gaza City.
