As of: 08/05/2022 9:35 p.m
Several rockets have been fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip. Earlier, Israel had attacked targets in the Gaza Strip with a large-scale military operation – and killed a militant Palestinian leader.
Rockets have been fired at Israel after the killing of a Palestinian militant leader in the Gaza Strip. Sirens could be heard in several towns as far south as the coastal city of Tel Aviv in the evening. According to Israeli media reports, the rockets landed in open areas or were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system.
Israeli forces had previously killed the military chief of the militant Palestinian organization Islamic Jihad (PIJ) in the Gaza Strip, Taisir al-Jabari. According to the military, the senior commander was responsible for numerous rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip and planned attacks on civilians. Islamic Jihad is classified as a terrorist organization by the EU and the US.
Palestinians announced retaliation
According to Palestinian sources, at least ten people were killed in the large-scale military operation involving several airstrikes, including Al-Jabari and a five-year-old child. At least 55 people were injured. Militant Palestinians announced retaliation.
Israeli Prime Minister Jair Lapid called the Israeli attack a “precise anti-terrorist operation” to ward off an “imminent threat”. And: “Israel is not interested in a broad operation in the Gaza Strip, but it is not afraid of it either.”
Meanwhile, Israel’s defense minister, Benny Gantz, approved the mobilization of 25,000 reservists. According to the military, the decision was made after assessing the security situation.
Similar incident already in 2019
In 2019, Israel had already specifically killed jihadi military chief Baha Abu al-Ata. This was followed by massive rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip on Israeli locations and counterattacks by the Israeli Air Force in the coastal strip. After a few days, a ceasefire was agreed with the help of Egypt and the United Nations.
Around two million people live in the Gaza Strip. Hamas, classified by the EU as a terrorist organization, violently seized power in 2007. Israel then tightened a blockade of the area, supported by Egypt. Both countries justify the measure with security interests.