- 4
- 11.05.2023 07:48:00
- 3 min read
Palestinians are responding with a rocket attack.
The Gaza Strip launched more than 60 rockets towards Israel in response to Israeli Air Force strikes on Islamic Jihad group positions and targets.
According to Israeli officials, most of the Rockets were shot down. One rocket landed in an empty house located in the city of Sderot, just 1 km from the Gaza border. Two people who ran to a bomb shelter in Ashkelon were injured, while three others suffered from stress.
On 10 may, the Israeli Air Force fired second-day strikes on a line of Islamic Jihad targets in Gaza. At least two people were killed and one injured in the accident.
The Israeli army claims that rocket strikes were given to militant positions, including those where rockets were fired at Israel. Some witnesses said that blast voices were also heard in the northern Gaza Strip, in areas with civilian populations.
At the same time, the Israeli army said that in the Khan Yunus area of southern Gaza, "Islamic Jihad"hit those who were driving in their vehicle with a rocket launcher.
An hour later, Tsakhal (Israel Defense Army) announced that it had begun striking missile formations belonging to Islamic Jihad in the area, explaining this by preventing possible counter-strikes.
The day before, the Israeli army had fired a series of rounds at targets located in the Gaza Strip under HAMAS control. Three field commanders of the Islamic Jihad group were killed in the aftermath. According to the Palestinian side, at least 12 other family members died with them.
Israel announced that it had launched an operation against its citizens and militants who were directly threatening the security of the country.
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said at a meeting with his aides: "my direction is that we should be prepared for further expansion of the campaign or very strong strikes both now and in the future".
"I think we have the advantage here," he added.
"We don't expect them to launch rockets," said Israeli security minister Avi Dixter. – If the blows are taken or destroyed, the rocket launchers are hit, all this will ultimately help to restrain."
Earlier, Islamic Jihad spokesman David Shihab said that the response to Israel was inevitable, and the delay was due to "tactics".
"We are choosing the response time based on our tactics and calculations. Because the answer must correspond to the size of the crime," he said.
Earlier, Israeli soldiers had shot and killed two Palestinians who opened fire on themselves in the occupied West Bank city of Kabatia. The IDF reported that during the raid, soldiers captured a man, after which they were fired upon by machine guns.
"The soldiers fired in response to the two attackers and destroyed them," the army said in a message.
Islamic Jihad claimed that these attackers were its members.
Businesses and schools in Gaza are still closed. Israel has also closed two checkpoints with Gaza. This prevents the passage of goods, fuel, and humanitarian aid, as well as the entry of treated patients into hospitals in the West Bank and Israel.
On 9 may, Israel closed roads in cities close to the Gaza Strip, advised residents to stay close to bomb shelters, and announced that it would draft some of the reserve soldiers.
HAMAS leader Ismail Honia said in Gaza on 9 may that the "assassination of the leadership would lead to increased resistance".
After the air strikes of 9 may, Egypt, a long-time intermediary in Gaza, said that such actions could "escalate the situation, resulting in withdrawal from control".
