The Israeli Air Force struck several Islamic Jihad targets in the Gaza Strip in the predawn hours of Friday morning in response to four rocket attacks by the Iranian-backed terrorist group, which violated a ceasefire announced on Thursday.
According to the military, the targets included a munitions factory and the Khan Younis headquarters of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad "in which there were several offices belonging to PIJ commanders."
"The IDF views with great severity the violation of the ceasefire and the firing of rockets at Israel. It is at high alert and will continue to act, as necessary, against attempts to harm Israeli citizens," the IDF said.
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The Egyptian-mediated truce went into effect at 3:30 a.m. (Israel time) and followed 48 hours of massive rocket fire bu PIJ terrorists as southern and central Israel.
The latest flare-up followed the targeted killing of top Islamic Jihad commander Baha Abu al-Ata in his Gaza home on Tuesday, for which the Iranian-backed terrorist group vowed an "unprecedented response."
We are currently striking Islamic Jihad terror targets in Gaza.
This comes after rockets were indiscriminately fired from Gaza at Israeli civilians today.
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) November 14, 2019
The IDF said Thursday that in the wake of the hit, codenamed "Operation Black Belt," Islamic Jihad fired 450 rockets at Israel in the span of 48 hours. The Iron Dome defense system intercepted 90% of all projectiles aimed at residential areas, the military said.
Foreign Minister Israel Katz told Army Radio on Thursday that Israel will follow suit if Palestinian terrorists in the Gaza Strip hold their fire and cease cross-border attacks.
"Quiet will be met with quiet," Katz said, stressing that "the State of Israel will not hesitate to strike at those who try to harm it, from the Gaza Strip or from anywhere else."
Hamas, Gaza's dominant faction, appeared to have stayed out of this round of fighting. That may have helped stem escalation.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the military operation was drawing to a conclusion with its goals met. "Our enemies got the message - we can reach anyone," Netanyahu said, as he visited soldiers at a missile interception battery.
