A source told AsiaNews that the attack took everybody by surprise. After arresting some members of Islamic Jihad, Israel wants to continue its "counterterrorism” operation for a week. So far, half a score have died, including a five-year-old girl. The risk of further escalation is high.
Gaza (AsiaNews) – The situation in Gaza is “very bad”; everyone was “taken by surprise“ by the Israeli attack last night, said a source in Gaza who spoke to AsiaNews following an Israeli airstrike that killed at least 10 people, including a five-year-old girl. At least 70 were wounded.
This kind of violence had not occurred since clashes in May 2021 when more than 200 Palestinians and 12 Israelis lost their lives in 11 days of conflict.
Israeli authorities say they killed Tayseer Jabari, a senior commander in the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) group, an Iranian-backed group.
The PJI responded firing a hundred rockets, almost all intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome anti-missile system.
In the early hours of this morning Israel resumed its operation, dubbed Breaking Down, which could go on for a week army spokesman Ran Kochav said.
Israeli authorities also announced the arrest of 19 members of Islamic Jihad in the West Bank.
According to Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, Israel carried out “a precise counter-terror operation against an immediate threat”.
The sudden escalation follows the arrest of Bassem Saadi in the evening of 1 August; the latter is considered the leader of the PIJ in the West Bank. A 15-year-old boy died in the operation.
According to Israeli authorities, yesterday's attack was designed to foil an imminent attack. What will happen now is anybody’s guess.
“We will respond forcefully to this aggression,” said PIJ secretary general Ziyad al-Nakhalah.
Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, has made it clear that all armed groups are united in the fight, but for now it has stayed out.
For its part, Egypt announced that it has begun talks to reach a ceasefire.