An explosion occurred in the southern Gaza Strip following Israeli airstrikes. Credit: Reuters
Israel killed three senior Islamic Jihad commanders in air strikes in Gaza and at least six civilians, including children, Palestinian officials said as the Israeli military said it carried out strikes on the militant group on Tuesday.
The air strikes were the latest incident in more than a year of a spate of violence that has been accompanied by repeated Israeli military raids and an escalation in settler violence in the occupied West Bank, amid a spate of street attacks by Palestinians targeting Israelis. Jihad, the second strongest armed group in the blockaded coastal enclave controlled by the Islamist militant group Hamas.
Islamic Jihad's armed wing confirmed the deaths of three people, adding: «We will not leave our positions and the resistance will continue God willing.”
The group has identified the commanders. killed as Jihad Ghannam, Khalil Al-Bakhtini and Tarek Izzeldin.
"Any terrorist who harmed Israeli citizens will regret it" Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said.
The Israeli military, working with the Shin Bet intelligence service, «definitely» targeted the Islamic Jihad leadership in Gaza. operation, he added.
A Gaza health official said at least 12 people were killed and another 20 injured in air strikes on residential areas.
Explosions in the sky Credit: Reuters
Strong explosions rocked the area for hours as witnesses reported Israeli planes were striking against Islamic Jihad hideouts in residential areas and facilities across the Gaza Strip, including training camps and border posts.
«Bombardment will be answered with bombardment, and attack will be answered with attack.» said Tarek Selmi, an Islamic Jihad spokesman. "This crime will not go unpunished"
Video footage showed puffs of smoke and flames illuminating the night sky as fire trucks raced towards the stricken building, and a medic calmed the confused girl.
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"Your family is safe, don't worry" he said.
A fire is visible after the explosion in Gaza. Photo: Reuters
The airstrikes come as tensions escalate between Israel and militants in Gaza. The Strip, which is ruled by the paramilitary group Hamas. Tensions stem from rising violence in the occupied West Bank, where Israel has carried out almost daily raids in recent months to detain Palestinians suspected of planning or carrying out attacks against Israelis.
In anticipation of Palestinian rocket attacks in response to airstrikes, the Israeli military issued instructions advising residents of communities within 25 miles of Gaza to stay close to designated bomb shelters.
Fire burning in the building Photo: Reuters
Last week, militants from Gaza fired several rocket salvos into southern Israel, and the Israeli military responded with airstrikes following the death of a starving senior Islamic Jihad member in Israeli custody. The firefight ended in a fragile ceasefire brokered by Egypt, the UN and Qatar.
The airstrikes are similar to those in 2022, when Israel bombed the residences of Islamic Jihad commanders, resulting in a three-day raid in which the Iranian-backed group lost two top commanders and dozens of other fighters.
Damage after Israeli military strikes Islamic Jihad targets . Photo: Reuters
Israel says the raids in the West Bank are designed to eliminate militant networks and prevent future attacks. The Palestinians see the attacks as further strengthening Israel's 56-year indefinite occupation of the lands they are seeking for a future independent state.
There are 105 Palestinians so far, about half of whom are militants or alleged attackers, according to the Associated Press, with early 2023 were killed by Israeli shelling in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.
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