Israel threatens to assassinate Islamic Jihad leader in Damascus - report

According to a report in the Arabic language al-Hayat newspaper, Israel’s message was delivered to Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) through United Nations Special Envoy for the Middle East Nickolay Mladenov.

NOVEMBER 13, 2019 22:30

Mourners carry the body of Palestinian Islamic Jihad field commander Baha Abu Al-Atta during his funeral in Gaza City November 12, 2019 (photo credit: REUTERS) — Mourners carry the body of Palestinian Islamic Jihad field commander Baha Abu Al-Atta during his funeral in Gaza City November 12, 2019

(photo credit: REUTERS)

Israel has reportedly threatened Palestinian Islamic Jihad that it will assassinate the group’s secretary-general, Ziyad al-Nakhalah, if the rocket fire continues, an Arab media report claimed on Wednesday. Nakhalah is said to be based in Damascus.

According to a report in the Arabic-language Al-Hayat newspaper, Israel’s message was delivered to the Palestinian terrorist faction by UN Special Envoy for the Middle East Nickolay Mladenov.

“If the PIJ continues to fire rockets at Israeli towns, Israel threatens to escalate assassinations, and that the secretary-general of the group is not safe from these threats: he is also a target,” the report quoted a source as saying. “But if the group stops firing rockets toward the settlements of the Gaza envelope and commits to a truce, Israel will abide by all the terms of the truce understandings and will also provide more facilities to the Gaza Strip.”

Pretty wild: #Israel reportedly sent a message to PIJ through UN Special Coordinator @nmladenov that if the group continue to fire rockets, the military will eliminate PIJ leader Ziad Nahalka who lives in Damascus https://t.co/zW7eU7fEM4
— Anna Ahronheim (@AAhronheim) November 13, 2019

The sources told the paper that while Israel is not interested in escalation, PIJ will likely continue to escalate the situation over the coming hours, as the efforts of Mladenov to mediate between Israel and Islamic Jihad to put an end to the violence have yet to achieve any results.

Hamas, the report continued, does not want to involve itself in the latest round.

“We believe that PIJ is on its own,” the sources told Al-Hayat.