After a year of lowered tensions between Israel and Palestinian militants, fighting was rekindled by Israel airstrikes in the Gaza strip. Last week, Israel launched the attacks in an attempt to stop an alleged “immediate threat” by the Palestinian Islamic Jihadi (PIJ) group. The operation was called “Breaking Dawn” by the Israeli military and is the most devastating outbreak of fighting since an 11-day war in May 2021.
The PIJ had allegedly been planning to strike back against Israel after officials confirmed that PIJ leader Khaled Mansour was killed in an air strike in Southern Gaza. In the West Bank, home to millions of Palestinian Arabs, Israel made several arrests on individuals suspected of being connected to the PIJ.
Hamas, the leading militant group that controls Gaza, has stayed out of the conflict for now. Despite Hamas being in charge of a massive stockpile of rockets, the Jihadi fighters were able to independently fire over 1,100 rockets and mortar shells into Israel. Israel’s state-of-the-art Iron Dome missile defense system intercepted 96% of the incoming rockets.
Israel suffered minimal losses to life and property. According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, 44 Palestinians were killed and 360 injured. Of the 44 dead, 15 are confirmed to be children. Israel blames Gaza for these deaths, stating that the PIJ had fired multiple rockets that landed short and detonated in Gaza civilian cities. This claim could not be immediately verified.
Israel says they successfully struck 170 Jihadi targets, ranging from high-ranking military officials to stockpiles of weapons. After three days of exchanging fire, a cease-fire was agreed upon by both sides, facilitated by Egypt.
The cease-fire was welcome news for civilians inside the Gaza strip, who were forced to run off of external fuel supplies after their primary power plant shut down. The border between the Gaza strip and Israel was reopened after a six-day closure, and fuel trucks and humanitarian aid flowed through.
President Biden commented, “My support for Israel’s security is long-standing and unwavering — including its right to defend itself against attacks.” The White House also acknowledged the civilian deaths inside Gaza and promised a “timely and thorough investigation into all of these reports.”