Ten killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza Strip, 55 others injured, says Health Ministry
Besieged Gaza Strip (QNN)- Ten people were killed and 55 others were wounded, so far, in the recent Israeli airstrikes on the coastal enclave as ‘Israel’ announced the launch of a new military operation called “Breaking Dawn” on Friday against Islamic Jihad group.
Including a 5-year-old girl and a senior Islamic Jihad leader, the Health Ministry in Gaza confirmed that 10 people were killed and at least 55 others were wounded and being treated at hospitals as a result of the Israeli strikes.
On Friday, ‘Israel’ announced it has started a new military operation against the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza; the operation was dubbed “Breaking Dawn”.
The Israeli attacks targeted different areas: Khan Yunis and Rafah in the south of the strip, al-Shuja’iya neighborhood in the north, and a residential building in central Gaza.
Multiple blasts could be heard and seen throughout Gaza. Israeli reconnaissance drones could also be heard hovering over the besieged strip.
The aggression comes after days of tension with the Islamic Jihad movement after a senior leader of the group, Bassam al-Saadi, was brutally arrested and attacked on Monday by Israeli forces during a military raid in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin. Saadi’s son-in-law, Ashraf al-Jada, was also arrested in the raid; Saadi’s wife sustained injuries during the arrest and was taken to hospital for treatment.
During the same raid, Israeli forces also shot and killed 17-year-old Palestinian Dirar al-Kafrayni.
The strikes also came after days of border closures, including the closure of the Karam Abu Salem commercial crossing, which is responsible for the flow of fuel needed for Gaza’s sole power plant.
Earlier this week, Israeli occupation closed roads around Gaza and sent reinforcements to the border as it braced for a response after the arrest of al-Saadi.
Ahmed Mudalal, an Islamic Jihad official in Gaza, said the movement had made demands on Israeli occupation through Egyptian mediators, including the release of the al-Saadi and another detainee who has been on an open-ended hunger strike for over 155 days in protest against his administrative detention, a halt to West Bank raids, and the lifting of the Gaza blockade. He said they have not yet received a response.
Responding to the aggressive attacks, the Islamic Jihad said in a statement, “The enemy has begun a war targeting our people, and we all have the duty to defend ourselves and our people, and not allow the enemy to get away with its actions which are aimed at undermining the resistance and national steadfastness.”
An Israeli military spokesman said “we are assuming about 15 killed in action” in Gaza, referring to Islamic Jihad group fighters.
“We haven’t finished yet,” spokesman Richard Hecht told reporters, adding that ‘Israel’ expected retaliatory rocket fire against by Palestinian factions in Gaza.
Ziad al-Nakhalah, head of the Islamic Jihad, said there are no limits in this round of fighting and that Tel Aviv will be targeted.
“There are no red lines in this battle and Tel Aviv will fall under the rockets of resistance, as well as all Israeli cities,” he said.
Fawzi Barhoum, the spokesperson for Hamas, said the resistance factions in Gaza are united and ready to respond with “full force”.
