In 2019, Islamic Jihad flared up again after Israel killed Jabari's predecessor, Baha Abu al-Ata...
Digital Desk: In the region's biggest escalation of violence since a conflict last year, Israel pounded Gaza with airstrikes on Saturday, and a Palestinian terrorist organization reacted with a barrage of rocket fire.
Health authorities in the Hamas-controlled enclave said that 10 people, including a five-year-old child, had been killed and 79 others injured as a result of Israel's shelling. The Israeli army estimated that its operation killed 15 militants.
Following days of unrest near the Gaza border, Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid claimed that the Jewish nation was compelled to conduct a "pre-emptive counter-terror operation against an immediate threat" posed by the Islamic Jihad organization.
Taysir al-Jabari, a key leader of the terrorist organization, was killed in a Friday strike on a building in Gaza City, according to both Israel and Islamic Jihad.
Prior to firing more than 100 rockets at Israel, Islamic Jihad declared that the initial Israeli bombardment amounted to a "declaration of war."
The rocket firing and Israeli strikes continued overnight, raising the prospect of a repetition of the 11-day fight in May 2021, which destroyed Gaza and prompted tens of thousands of Israelis to flee to bomb shelters.
In a speech that was broadcast nationwide, Lapid stated that "Israel is not interested in a bigger conflict in Gaza, but will not shy away from one either."
Several locations in southern and central Israel heard air raid sirens overnight, although no immediate reports of casualties were reported.
Border officials urged residents to gather near shelters, which were also being opened in Tel Aviv, the Israeli commercial centre.
The army initially reported that at least 70 rockets were launched from Gaza, claiming 11 landed inside the strip, dozens were destroyed by the Iron Dome air defense system, and others landed in open areas.
By 4:30 am, Israeli strikes and air raid alerts had temporarily subsided.
Egypt, a long-standing mediator between Israel and Gaza's armed organizations, was looking to mediate and may receive an Islamic Jihad delegation later Saturday, according to Egyptian authorities.
Escalation, mediation
Since assuming control of Gaza in 2007, Hamas has fought in four battles with Israel, including the most recent one in May. Islamic Jihad is a distinct organization that cooperates with Hamas but also operates on its own.
In 2019, Islamic Jihad flared up again after Israel killed Jabari's predecessor, Baha Abu al-Ata.
For several days, the two sides brawled with no participation from Hamas.
The actions of Hamas in the midst of the present violence could be critical in determining its intensity, as the group is under pressure from some to remain calm in order to improve economic conditions in the region.
Abdullah al-Arayshi, a resident of Gaza City, described the scene as "extremely stressful." "The nation is in ruins. War is enough for us. The future of our generation is lost," he told AFP.
According to Hamas, Israel has "done a grave crime for which it must face the consequences.
Reportedly, just after the first attack, flames erupted from a structure in Gaza City while medical personnel evacuated injured Palestinians.
As per the health ministry in Gaza, nine people were killed, including "a five-year-old girl, targeted by the Israeli occupation."
Five-year-old Alaa Kaddum had a pink bow in her hair and a wound on her forehead as her body was carried by her father at her funeral.
At the funerals of Jabari and the other victims of the airstrikes, hundreds of people gathered in Gaza City.
"We are assuming about 15 died in battle," Israeli military spokesperson Richard Hecht said of Palestinian insurgents in Gaza.
Israeli military officials said on Thursday that they were bolstering their troops as tanks were queued up around the border.
Tor Wennesland, the UN's Middle East peace envoy, expressed his "great concern" and cautioned that the escalation was "extremely dangerous."
Notably, the attacks came four days after Israel, citing security concerns, shut down its two border crossings with Gaza and limited the movement of Israeli citizens residing close to the border.
The actions came after two top Islamic Jihad militants, including Bassem al-Saadi, who Israel claims of planning recent attacks, were detained in the occupied West Bank.
Since mid-March, Israel has conducted a nearly constant wave of operations inside the West Bank in response to deadly attacks against Israeli citizens.
Although Islamic Jihad did not launch missiles following Saadi's arrest, Israel has argued all week that the group was determined to exact vengeance.
Since Tuesday, Palestinians, including those with medical needs and those who have work permits from Israel, have been unable to leave the Gaza Strip, and goods crossing has also been closed.
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