Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu sees little hope of an imminent ceasefire. Around 400 rockets are said to have been fired at Israel from Gaza in response to the airstrikes.
Even in the evening they could still be heard in large parts of Israel – the explosions when intercepting rockets from the Gaza Strip. In the towns near the Gaza Strip there was a late-night rocket alarm.
But people in the greater Tel Aviv area also had to visit the shelters several times. Yoav Galant, Israel’s Defense Minister, reported in the evening with an interim balance: “Around 400 rockets have been fired at the State of Israel. About a quarter of them landed in the Gaza Strip area, a large part in open fields. Some were intercepted “We regret that there were also some hits on houses. I say this because the achievements of Israeli technology, the Israeli security apparatus, are extremely impressive and keep showing. That’s good,” said Galant.
80 kilometers safety zone
Nonetheless, the security zone, in which people must stay near shelters, has been extended to 80 kilometers around the Gaza Strip. Schools and kindergartens remain closed in many places.
Israeli forces have been attacking targets in the Gaza Strip throughout the day. Surveillance drones could be heard in the air everywhere. The day before, Israel had specifically killed three leaders of the terrorist organization Islamic Jihad. Ten civilians were also killed. In total, the Ministry of Health in Gaza reported 21 deaths in the evening, including six children. 64 people were injured.
Little hope of a ceasefire
Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu also appeared before the press. He dashed hopes of a ceasefire anytime soon, saying the operation was not over yet: “The development of new intelligence capabilities and, in parallel, the development of new military capabilities, which are then brought together, has ensured that a new equation has been set up We say to the terrorists: we see you everywhere, you can’t hide and it’s us who choose the time and place to hit you, it’s us not you.”
The attacks on targets in the Gaza Strip should be understood as a clear signal to Israel’s enemies. After weeks of fierce domestic political disputes over judicial reform, there were doubts about Israel’s ability to defend itself.
Tsachi Hangebi, head of the Israel Security Council, told Channel 13: “Against a terrorist organization, the chance of achieving long-term deterrence is slim because the goal of a terrorist organization is to use terror and violence. But we don’t have that step Done only for Islamic Jihad alone, but also for Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, Assad. Everyone will understand that their assessment that Israel is weak because of its internal crisis fell apart in a matter of seconds.”
According to the Israeli armed forces, the attacks are aimed exclusively at Islamic Jihad. The organization is also said to be responsible for the missiles aimed at Israel. The role of Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, is still unclear.
Hamas emphasizes unity Palestinian organizations
So far, Hamas, which the EU classifies as a terrorist organization, has apparently not fired any rockets at Israel itself. At the same time, their spokesman Hasem Qasim emphasized the unity of various Palestinian organizations in the fight against Israel to the Shebab news agency: “We assure our people that we have carried out this response together and in a coordinated manner because there are agreements between the various groups. And we emphasize again that that coordination and unity is one of the sources of resistance strength.”
Meanwhile, Egypt is trying to mediate a ceasefire. But that is not yet in sight.