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image source, Reuters
Palestinian civilians and militants were among those killed by the Israeli strikes.
At least 10 people died from Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Stripincluding a senior commander of a Palestinian group.
Local health authorities reported that a girl was among the dead, while dozens of people were injured.
Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said the attack came in response to “an immediate threat” by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) following the arrest of one of its top leaders this week.
The YIP fired more than 100 rockets against Israel as “an initial response”.
Most of the rockets were intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome shield. Warning sirens were activated in several cities.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said they resumed attacks on Friday night, targeting positions of Palestinian militants.
In a televised speech, Lapid explained that “Israel carried out a precise counter-terrorism operation against an immediate threat.”
Among the YIP sites attacked was the Palestine Towerone of the tallest buildings in Gaza City, which suffered a strong explosion and a plume of smoke.
Four YIP militants, including Tayseer Jabari, as well as a 5-year-old girl, were among those killed since the attacks began, according to Palestinian health authorities.
Another 55 people were injured.
image source, EPA
Dozens of rockets were fired from Gaza into Israel.
An Israeli military spokesman said the IDF was “estimating that some 15” Palestinian militants had been killed.
Israeli Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked said: “We don’t know how this will play out, but it could take time… This could be a long and difficult round of the conflict“.
Speaking during a visit to the Iranian capital Tehran, YIP Secretary General Ziyad al Nakhala said they would respond “with force to this aggression”.
“There will be a fight in which our people will win,” he continued. “There are no red lines for this battle… and Tel Aviv will be under the rockets of the resistance“.
Meanwhile, the Islamist group Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, said the militants are “united” in the battle and will not remain silent.
The arrest of Bassem Saadi
On Monday night, Israel arrested Bassem Saadiwho is considered the head of the YIP in the West Bank.
He was held in the Jenin area as part of a series of operations following a wave of attacks by Israeli Arabs and Palestinians that left 17 Israelis and two Ukrainians dead.
Two of the attackers came from the Jenin district.
image source, EPA
Palestinian Islamic Jihad is one of the main militant groups in Gaza.
After Saadi’s arrest, Israel stepped up security measures for communities near its border with Gaza, warning that the PIJ intended to target civilians and soldiers.
Road closures have paralyzed towns and villages in southern Israel.
The YIP, which counts backed by Iranis based in the Syrian city of Damascus and is one of the strongest militant groups in Gaza.
The group has been responsible for many attacks, including rocket fire and shootings against Israel.
Israel and the PIJ fought a five-day conflict in November 2019 after Israel killed a Palestinian commander who the Israeli government said was planning an imminent attack.
the violence left 34 Palestinians killed and 111 woundedwhile 63 Israelis were hospitalized.
Israel said 25 of the Palestinians killed were militants, including those preparing to launch rockets.
Report of Yolande Knell in jerusalem, Raffi Berg in London. Additional reporting by Yaroslav Lukov.
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