【Text/Observer Network Zhou Yibo】
According to the New York Times, on August 5, local time, Israel dispatched warplanes to launch air strikes against a number of targets in the Palestinian Gaza Strip. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (Jhad) responded with dozens of rockets, which Israeli television broadcasts were intercepted by the Iron Dome air defense system.
So far, the airstrikes have killed at least 10 people and injured 65 people, including a 5-year-old girl, and Jabari, a commander of Jerhard's military wing, was killed in the sky raid. According to the report, this is the most violent clash in the Gaza Strip since the armistice between the two sides in May 2021.
Israel said the airstrikes were aimed at "pre-emptive strikes" and aimed at preventing Jehad's attacks on Israeli civilians. In a statement, Jerhard said Israel had begun "war against our people" and would never tolerate such "acts of aggression."
Screenshot of the New York Times report
As early as a week ago, the Gaza Strip reportedly showed signs of escalation. At that time, Israel arrested a senior commander in the West Bank of Jerhad, while Gaza threatened retaliation.
Subsequently, Israel closed the crossing point into the Gaza Strip and closed Israeli roads close to the edge of Gaza, as they anticipated retaliatory attacks following the arrest of the aforementioned commander.
But as of August 5, Jehad had not attacked, and Israel had preemptively carried out airstrikes on the Gaza Strip.
The Gaza Strip health department said that the Israeli air raids launched on the 5th on a number of residential buildings in the Gaza Strip, as well as the watchtower and post of Jerhad, killed 10 people and injured 65 people, including a 5-year-old girl.
At the same time, both sides confirmed that Jabari, a commander of the Jerhad military service, was killed in the dang sky attack.
Smoke rises after Israeli airstrikes on a building in the Gaza Strip on August 5 Source: The New York Times
Shortly after the airstrikes, Israeli Prime Minister Rapid and Defense Minister Gantz issued a joint statement saying that the Israeli military had taken action against Jerhad's targets to eliminate the threat it posed to the Israelis.
He said Israel's move was "pre-emptive" and that the Israeli government would not allow armed groups in the Gaza Strip to threaten Israel's security and that anyone who tried to harm Israel would be retaliated against.
In a statement released after the airstrikes, Jerhard said, "The enemy has begun to wage war against our people, and we all need to protect ourselves and our people." ”
On the evening of Aug. 5, Jerhard fired dozens of rockets into Israel in response. Israeli television broadcast images of these rockets being intercepted by the Iron Dome air defense system.
Interceptor bombs were fired in the sky over the central Israeli city of Yavne, while air raid sirens sounded overnight in much of the south, indicating a fierce rocket attack in the air.
Several cities in southern Israel opened public bomb shelters as a precautionary measure as a result of the attack, and two Israelis were injured while seeking asylum.
On the evening of August 5, palestinian Islamic Jihad (Jhad) fired rockets at Israel Image: The New York Times
Despite attempts by UN officials to broker a ceasefire between the two sides, no substantial progress has been made. Diplomats and analysts fear the conflict could continue into next week. According to the report, the duration and intensity of this conflict depends to some extent on whether the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) joins Jerhard to fight back.
During Jehad's previous clashes with Israel, Hamas occasionally chose to stand by and watch. In response to the air strikes on the 5th, Hamas did not rule out the possibility of taking this approach again.
Ismail Chania, the leader of the Politburo of Hamas, said in a statement that "as we mourn the martyrs of leader Jabari and Justice, we affirm that this matter is directed in all directions and that we want to put an end to the Zionist aggression against our people." ”
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