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Israel-Gaza: Palestinian civilians and militants killed amid flare-up Israel-Gaza: Israel arrests 19 militant suspects after Gaza flare-up
(about 4 hours later)
Watch: Dozens of rockets fired into Israel from Gaza Strip Israel says it has arrested 19 members of the Palestinian group Islamic Jihad in raids across the occupied West Bank, after carrying out airstrikes against targets in the Gaza Strip.
Watch: Dozens of rockets fired into Israel from Gaza Strip Eleven people have been killed in the air strikes, including a child and PIJ leader Tayseer Jabari.
Tensions remain high after a night of heavy weapons fire between the Gaza Strip and Israel. Israel said the strikes followed an "immediate threat" from the group.
Dozens of rockets fired from Gaza lit up the sky, following the killing of at least 10 people in Israeli air strikes. Scores of rockets were fired from Gaza towards Israel overnight, most of them intercepted, Israel's military said.
Militant leader Tayseer Jabari was among the dead. Israel said the strikes followed an "immediate threat" from his Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) group. The latest violence is the most serious flare-up between Israel and Gaza in just over a year
A five-year-old girl in Gaza also died, local health officials said, and dozens more were injured. The 11-day war in May 2021 left more than 200 Palestinians and a dozen Israelis dead before a ceasefire was agreed.
PIJ responded by firing more than 100 rockets into Israel overnight "in an initial response". The Israeli military is warning this latest operation - codenamed Breaking Dawn - could last for a week.
Most were intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome missile defence shield, but sirens sounded in a number of Israeli cities throughout the night. Sirens warning of incoming missiles continued to sound in Israeli towns on Saturday, amid more reports of air strikes in Gaza that Israel says are targeting PIJ militants.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had resumed rocket strikes against multiple militant positions in Gaza, continuing the attacks into the early hours of the morning. Palestinian health officials confirmed a man was killed near Khan Younis in the south of the strip.
On Saturday, Israel said it had arrested 19 members of PIJ in raids across the West Bank. But so far Hamas, the biggest militant group in the area - which has similar ideology to Islamic Jihad and often coordinates its actions with it - does not seem to be firing from its large rocket arsenal.
The overnight exchange of fire marks the most serious escalation in violence since May 2021's 11-day war, which left more than 200 Palestinians and a dozen Israelis dead before a ceasefire was agreed. As a result, there are no reports of Israeli air strikes targeting Hamas.
Egypt, which has acted as a mediator between the two sides in the past, is reportedly offering to act as a go-between once again in a bid to prevent further escalation. Hamas issued strong statements on Friday night saying that "resistance groups" were united. But because it governs Gaza it has its own practical considerations which may stop it from getting more involved.
Life in the Palestinian territory has already become much harder in the past week, after Israel closed its crossings with Gaza amid fears that Islamic Jihad would retaliate for the arrest of one of its leaders in the northern West Bank.
The calculations of Hamas could change, if for example the civilian death toll in Gaza rises rapidly.
It it does to decide to join the fighting then it would quickly get much more intense.
If things stay like this, Egypt - which often acts as a go-between for Israel and Gaza - could have a better chance of brokering some kind of truce.
Cairo officials were preparing on Saturday to host a potential delegation of PIJ representatives as part of that process, Egyptian media said.Cairo officials were preparing on Saturday to host a potential delegation of PIJ representatives as part of that process, Egyptian media said.
The Israel-Palestinian conflict explainedThe Israel-Palestinian conflict explained
Referring to the initial strike on Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said: "Israel carried out a precise counter-terror operation against an immediate threat." Almost 200 rockets were fired from Gaza towards Israel overnight, the Israeli military said. Most were intercepted by the Iron Dome defence, with no Israeli casualties.
Some 30 Islamic Jihad targets have been struck, among them two weapon storage facilities and 6 rocket manufacturing sites, the IDF said. At least 78 people have been injured.
Referring to the initial strike on Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said Israel carried out "a precise counter-terror operation against an immediate threat".
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked said: "We don't know how this will play out... but this could take time... this could be a lengthy round [of conflict] and a hard one."Meanwhile, Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked said: "We don't know how this will play out... but this could take time... this could be a lengthy round [of conflict] and a hard one."
The IDF said its attacks targeted sites linked to PIJ, including the high-rise Palestine Tower in Gaza City which was hit on Friday in a loud explosion which left smoke pouring from the building.The IDF said its attacks targeted sites linked to PIJ, including the high-rise Palestine Tower in Gaza City which was hit on Friday in a loud explosion which left smoke pouring from the building.
An Israeli military spokesman estimated "about 15 militants" were killed in the operation.
Smoke rises above the southern Gaza Strip during an Israeli air strikeSmoke rises above the southern Gaza Strip during an Israeli air strike
Local health officials inside Gaza say four PIJ militants, including Tayseer Jabari, have been killed since the strikes started.
The IDF said Tayseer Jabari was a "senior commander" in PIJ, and accused him of having committed "multiple terrorist attacks" against Israeli civilians.The IDF said Tayseer Jabari was a "senior commander" in PIJ, and accused him of having committed "multiple terrorist attacks" against Israeli civilians.
Five-year-old Alaa Kaddum was among those killed in the strikes, local officials also said.Five-year-old Alaa Kaddum was among those killed in the strikes, local officials also said.
Gaza authorities said another 79 people were also injured, AFP news agency reports.
In remarks delivered while on a trip to the Iranian capital Tehran, PIJ secretary general Ziyad al-Nakhala said: "We will respond forcefully to this aggression, and there will be a fight in which our people will win."In remarks delivered while on a trip to the Iranian capital Tehran, PIJ secretary general Ziyad al-Nakhala said: "We will respond forcefully to this aggression, and there will be a fight in which our people will win."
"There are no red lines for this battle... and Tel Aviv will be under the rockets of the resistance"."There are no red lines for this battle... and Tel Aviv will be under the rockets of the resistance".
Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip, said the armed groups were "united" in battle and would not keep silent.
The latest conflict closely follows Israel's arrest of Bassem Saadi, reported to be the head of PIJ in the West Bank, on Monday night.The latest conflict closely follows Israel's arrest of Bassem Saadi, reported to be the head of PIJ in the West Bank, on Monday night.
He was held in the Jenin area as part of an ongoing series of arrest operations after 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.He was held in the Jenin area as part of an ongoing series of arrest operations after 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.
After Bassem Saadi's arrest, Israel warned that PIJ intended to attack civilians and soldiers in retaliation - and so heightened security measures for communities living near the border with Gaza.
PIJ, which is one of the strongest militant groups operating in Gaza, is backed by Iran and has its headquarters in the Syrian capital Damascus.PIJ, which is one of the strongest militant groups operating in Gaza, is backed by Iran and has its headquarters in the Syrian capital Damascus.
It has been responsible for many attacks, including rocket-fire and shootings against Israel.It has been responsible for many attacks, including rocket-fire and shootings against Israel.
In November 2019, Israel and PIJ fought a five-day conflict following the killing by Israel of a PIJ commander who Israel said had been planning an imminent attack. The violence left 34 Palestinians dead and 111 injured, while 63 Israelis needed medical treatment.In November 2019, Israel and PIJ fought a five-day conflict following the killing by Israel of a PIJ commander who Israel said had been planning an imminent attack. The violence left 34 Palestinians dead and 111 injured, while 63 Israelis needed medical treatment.
Israel said 25 of the Palestinians killed were militants, including those hit preparing to launch rockets.Israel said 25 of the Palestinians killed were militants, including those hit preparing to launch rockets.
Watch: Dozens of rockets fired into Israel from Gaza Strip
Watch: Dozens of rockets fired into Israel from Gaza Strip