LIVE BLOG: Biden welcomes ceasefire, calls for investigation of civilian casualties

The IDF launched Operation Breaking Dawn against Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip on Friday evening, striking multiple targets belonging to the group and killed close to a dozen terrorist operatives including the head of the group in the northern part of the enclave. By late Friday night, over 100 rockets had been fired into Israel from the Gaza Strip. 

Defense Minister Benny Gantz approved a draft call up order of up to 25,000 soldiers in reserve duty for operational purposes and the IDF began calling up reservists in the Southern Command, Air Defense Units, the Homefront Command and combat troops and officers.

"The goal of this operation is the elimination of a concrete threat against the citizens of Israel and the civilians living adjacent to the Gaza Strip," Prime Minister Yair Lapid said in a statement.

Dozens of targets across the Gaza Strip were hit, with casualties including the head of the group’s northern command Tayseer al-Jabari.

Jabari replaced Baha abu al-Ata who was killed in an IAF strike in 2019. Jabari, who was also responsible for coordination between the group and Hamas, was killed at 4.16 PM in his apartment in Shuja'iyya. According to the IDF, he commanded over the launching of hundreds of rockets during Operation Guardian of the Walls last year, including anti-tank-guided missile attacks.

The apartment in Gaza, which Israel struck on August 5 to kill a top Islamic Jihad operative as part of Operation Breaking Dawn. (credit: MAHMUD HAMS/AFP via Getty Images)

The IDF said that it had received a specific warning that Jabari was planning an attack against Israeli targets before the arrest of another Islamic Jihad terror leader - Bassem Saadi - earlier in the week in a raid in the West Bank.

In addition, IAF jets and drones targeted two cells that were on the way to carry out anti-tank missile attacks, killing at least 12 Islamic Jihad operatives. Military bases and buildings used by operatives were also targeted. 

IDF warplanes have attacked a site in the Gaza Strip which manufactured materials used in the production of rockets as well as striking many Islamic Jihad sites manufacturing weapons, launching positions and military sites.

The Islamic Jihad said it fired at IDF aircraft. None were reported hit.

A rocket that was sent from Gaza landed in an open area near Sderot that is under construction. There was light damage that was caused and no injuries were reported.

IDF fighter jets attacked another production site used by the Islamic Jihad for the production of rockets as well as the production of mortar bombs. The IDF continues to attack terror sites of the Islamic Jihad throughout the Gaza Strip.

According to reports in Gaza, several civilians were killed including a 5-year-old girl and at least 55 more were injured.

"The enemy has begun a war against our people and against us and we will defend ourselves and our people," Islamic Jihad said in a statement.

The group’s leader Ziad Nahalka, who is based in Damascus, said that "the enemy should expect fighting. Our military wing will stand abreast of all other resistance factions in our struggle against Israeli aggression. This campaign is no holds barred and Tel Aviv will also taste the wrath of the rockets of the resistance."

A senior IDF officer said that the military was targeting Islamic Jihad and was trying to avoid civilian casualties and damage, but that the IDF was ready for the situation to escalate and stressed that Israeli civilians must adhere all instructions from the Home Front Command. 

“We couldn't allow Islamic Jihad to carry out an attack, it backfired on them,” he said, adding that “there will be [rocket] barrages, there may also be casualties, all this is clear and this should also be told to the public.”

Following the targeted killings, which were carried out by jets and armed drones, the IDF warned that the group would likely respond with rocket fire toward the Israeli home front. The military has therefore placed Iron Dome batteries in the area of Jerusalem, Beersheba and others in order to intercept any projectile fired by the group.

“No one will be surprised if there are rocket barrages,” the senior officer said. “We are in an operation that won't take several hours, rather it will take time. We have not said our last word, we have more to do.”

The IDF said it hopes Hamas will stay out of the fighting, and that the terror group ruling the Strip is currently sitting on the fence over whether to join in any fighting that may break out.

Earlier on Friday afternoon, it allowed fuel into Gaza to prevent a total shutdown of the sole power plant in the Strip, which already operates on a limited capacity. Without the plant, Gaza would be dependent on external power largely from Israel which provides 120 megawatts daily.

Residents of the Gaza envelope were asked to remain indoors and all large gatherings were canceled. The National Emergency Authority in the Defense Ministry said that it has activated a plan dubbed “civilian safe distance” which allows any regional authority to help residents of the area evacuate their homes to accommodation facilities, should any wish to do so.

The IDF has also declared a “special situation” in the home front up to 80km from the Gaza Strip, including Tel Aviv, that there could be a risk of rocket fire. Major cities in central and southern Israel opened up their bomb shelters, including Tel Aviv, Beersheba and Rishon Lezion.

Residents of the Gaza envelope were asked to remain close to shelters should there be any rocket fire. The IDF has also declared a “special situation” for the home front up to 80km from the Gaza Strip, including Tel Aviv, that there could be a risk of rocket fire. 

“The IDF continues to operate against the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist organization with the aim of restoring security to the civilians in the State of Israel,” the IDF said in a statement.

This picture taken on August 5, 2022 shows Israeli Iron Dome defense missile system batteries, near the city of Ashdod. (credit: (AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES))

Earlier in the day Lapid said that Israel 'won't allow terrorist organizations to set the agenda in the Gaza Strip and threaten the citizens of the State of Israel. Anyone who wants to harm Israel must know that we will get to them. Security forces will act against the Islamic Jihad terrorists to remove the threat from the citizens of Israel."

Gantz said that the goal is to protect Israeli communities and citizens. "We will not allow anyone to threaten or harm the citizens of Israel. Whoever tries - will be hurt."

Lapid, alternate PM Naftali Bennett and Gantz held a security assessment at the Kirya in Tel Aviv at 6:30.

Gantz's warning

Earlier in the day, Gantz warned that the threat posed by the group would be dealt with during a visit to the IDF’s Southern Command.

“To our enemies, and specifically to the leadership of Hamas and the Islamic Jihad, I would like to emphasize: your time is up. The threat [on this region] will be removed one way or another,” the defense minister said.

During his visit, he held a situational assessment with IDF Chief of Staff Kohavi, head of the southern Command Maj.-Gen. Eliezer Toledano, Commander of the Gaza Division Brig.-Gen. Nimrod Aloni and the head of the Shin Bet Ronen Bar. 

“The situation in which several terrorists (some of which are not even located in this area), hold the Gazan people hostage - will backfire,” Gantz warned.

Israel closed the Erez crossing on Tuesday, blocking 14,000 Gazans who have permits to enter Israel to work.

“Those who harm the ability of 14,000 workers to make a living, who cause produce to sit and spoil at crossing points, and who lead to electricity and food shortages - hurt the people of Gaza first and foremost, and will have to take responsibility [for this suffering],”he said. 

Islamic Jihad leader visited Iran

Nahalka was in Tehran on Thursday and met with Iran’s President Ibrahim Raisi. Tehran funds and equips the Gaza-based terror group.

Gantz said that security forces are preparing for all scenarios, on all fronts including in the north and the center of the country and that the IDF will continue its operational activity in all sectors as needed.

“We do not seek conflict, yet we will not hesitate to defend our citizens, if required,” he said, adding that “the State of Israel and the IDF will continue its operations, knowing the responsibility we bear on our shoulders - to defend the communities and citizens of Israel’s south. And to defend the citizens of the entire State of Israel.”

During his visit to the south, Gantz also met with the heads of regional authorities, several of whom have criticized the restrictions imposed on the area by the IDF.

Stating that the resilience of the residents of the Gaza envelope have shown throughout the years “deserves our appreciation,” Gantz said that the defense establishment’s mission is to ensure that the tension ends and life returns to normal.

“I say to the residents of the area - we stand with you and we will take all the measures required in order to defend you, in a manner that is both decisive and responsible, and that meets the operational considerations set to bring about the desired results,” the defense minister said.

Road restrictions in southern Israel remained in place for the fourth day over concerns of an attack by Islamic Jihad after Israeli security forces arrested Bassem Saadi, a senior leader of the group in the West Bank overnight on Monday.

The IDF closed roads near the Strip on Tuesday and on Wednesday, it called up 100 reservists to bolster the Gaza Division to assist in securing the area and keep civilians out of areas that could be targeted by PIJ. The IDF also suspended leave in some of the combat units and has placed its Iron Dome missile defense batteries on alert for any rocket fire.

Troops in the Southern Command and Gaza Division have been ordered to thwart any hostile activity if identified, such as an Islamic Jihad cell readying to fire rockets, mortars or anti-tank missiles. Armed drones flown by the Israel Air Force have also been prepared to strike armed cells.

The terrorist group has in the past fired anti-tank guided missiles toward Israeli vehicles, both civilian and military.

The pictures coming out of Tehran the last few days went a long way toward explaining events in the South of Israel.

Here was Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s leader Ziyad al-Nakhaleh’s meeting on Wednesday with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabollahian. On Thursday, it was Nakhaleh's meeting with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. And then on Saturday, after the beginning of Operation Breaking Dawn, a picture was released of him in a tête-à-tête with Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) head Hossein Salami.

Coincidence? Hardly.

Under Nakhaleh’s leadership, Islamic Jihad – whose founder Fathi Shikaki took his inspiration for establishing the organization in 1981 from Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and the 1979 Iranian Revolution – has turned into a fully owned and operated subsidiary of Iran.

While Iran and Islamic Jihad had a brief falling out in 2015-2016 over the Saudi campaign against the Houthis in Yemen, today Islamic Jihad is to Iran in Gaza what Hezbollah is to the Islamic Republic in Lebanon, and the Houthis are to the Iranians in Yemen.

A salvo of rockets is fired from Gaza City toward Israel, on August 6, 2022. (credit: MOHAMMED ABED/AFP/GETTY IMAGES)

Iran supports Hamas but it controls Islamic Jihad. There is a difference. To understand Islamic Jihad’s behavior over the past week, it is important to understand Iran’s interests. One need not be a brilliant Mideast strategist to understand Iran’s interests: to cause Israel as much hurt as possible.

“We are with you on this path until the end, and let Palestine and the Palestinians know that they are not alone,” Salami told Nakhalah during a meeting in Tehran.

Salami said Islamic Jihad’s actions have ushered in a “new era,” that Israel “will pay a heavy price once again for the recent crime,” and that “Palestinian resistance groups” today have “the ability to manage major wars.”

Be that as it may, after three days of Operation Breaking Dawn, Israel can point to several significant achievements in this “minor war.”

First, it surprised Islamic Jihad on Friday with its pinpoint strike on the safe house in Gaza City of Islamic Jihad’s Northern Command head Tayseer al-Jabari, as well as the killing at the same time of Abdullah Kadoum, the head of the group‘s anti-tank guided-missile section. It scored another success late Saturday night by killing Khaled Mansour, the group’s Southern Command head. Those actions highlighted both Israel’s technical and intelligence capabilities.

Israel also sent an unequivocal message to Islamic Jihad, and all others watching, that it will continue to fight terrorism originating in the West Bank by going on the offensive, taking the battle to the enemy, and not waiting until a terrorist attack “succeeds” before going after terrorists and terror supporters throughout the West Bank.

It will not be deterred from acting in Judea and Samaria by an Iranian-backed terrorist group issuing threats from Gaza. It sent a strong message that Islamic Jihad’s attempts to establish new rules – to set a new equation whereby any IDF action in the West Bank would lead to an automatic response or the threat of response that in and of itself could paralyze the South – would not be tolerated.

But Jerusalem was surprised as well

It was surprised by the intelligence information regarding Islamic Jihad’s intent after the arrest last week of Bassam Saadi in Jenin to fire anti-tank missiles at Israeli targets near the Gaza border. The conventional wisdom, based on experience, was that Islamic Jihad would issue some threats, maybe even fire some rockets toward Israel that would either be intercepted or land harmlessly in fields, but then – after a few hours – life would return to normal.

That didn’t happen this time.

Israel had hoped it would, and it was not alone. Even Hamas had hoped life would return to normal since a significant conflagration at this time does not serve its purpose of trying to reconstruct Gaza with Egyptian and Qatari help. Hamas also benefits from some 14,000 workers who have received permits to work in Israel; permits were temporarily rescinded last week.

Hamas, not Islamic Jihad, has overall authority over the life of the citizens in Gaza. It wants to decide when to launch a campaign against Israel. It does not want its hand forced by an organization that lacks the day-to-day responsibility for the citizens of Gaza, and whose considerations are not necessarily in sync with its own.

Islamic Jihad did not respond as expected because it was not in Iran’s interest for it to do so. Iran has an interest in keeping the situation in the South at a fever pitch; it has no interest in calming the situation. And the considerations foremost in the mind of Islamic Jihad’s leaders are what suits Iran, to whom it is tied ideologically and financially. Last year, Nakhaleh said Islamic Jihad took “direct orders” from the IRGC and that Iran delivered missiles to the Gaza Strip that were used to attack Tel Aviv.

After its initial successes against Islamic Jihad on Friday and Saturday, Israel’s interest was to end the fighting sooner rather than later. The longer the fighting would continue, the greater the likelihood of something going wrong that would fundamentally change the picture – such as an errant Israeli rocket that would kill Palestinian civilians – and lead to pressure on Hamas to join the fray.

Iran would like to see the fighting continue. If it doesn’t continue, then that is a sign of the sway of other actors in the region able to convince Islamic Jihad that to continue firing rockets now would be inimical to their interests.

A ceasefire agreement was reached and negotiators are working to include the release of Jenin Palestinian Islamic Jihad leader Bassem Saadi, PIJ spokesperson Muhammad al-Hindi told al-Quds News on Sunday.

The arrest of Saadi was one of the trigger events that led to open hostilities between Israel and PIJ.  

A ceasefire was proposed for 11:30 p.m. on Sunday by Egypt, Al Jazeera reported. 

The previous ceasefire deadline was broken, with Palestinian Islamic Jihad launching rockets soon after it passed at 8 p.m. 

About five people including children were killed in the al-Fallujah neighborhood of Jabaliya, according to the Israel Defense Forces the result of another misfired Palestinian Islamic Jihad rocket, Israeli media reported.

In another incident in the Buraj camp, three Gazans were reportedly killed by Islamic Jihad actions.

Palestinian media attributed their deaths to Israeli action.

On Saturday, four children were killed in Jabaliya when a rocket also misfired. 

The IDF released video and images documenting the phenomenon of rockets falling in Gaza on Sunday night, including of a rocket misfire into Jabaliya that day.

Prime Minister Yair Lapid will be entering into a meeting at the Kirya in Tel Aviv at 9:45 p.m.

Defense Minister Benny Gantz, IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi, the head of the Shin Bet and the head of the Mossad will be in attendance. 

The ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian Islamic Jihad has been postponed to an unknown date, Kan reported, citing a Saudi source. 

The military operation that killed Palestinian Islamic Jihad leader Khaled Mansour on Saturday night was delayed several times over the presence of children in the area, the IDF Spokesperson's Unit shared on Sunday. 

A video released by the IDF shows children playing in the area, and an IDF commander canceling the strike until they were satisfied no children were present. 

A Palestinian man was moderately injured when a rocket fell in Ashkelon's southern industrial area on Sunday night, a city spokesperson said. 

The 35-year-old man from Hebron was transferred to Barzilai Hospital after he received treatment on the scene, a Magen David Adom spokesperson said. They said that the man was hit in the head and limbs by shrapnel.

As talks of a ceasefire rockets increased hopes for calm, close to a thousand rockets were launched by Palestinian Islamic Jihad toward Israel since the beginning of Operation Breaking Dawn.

As of Sunday evening, 935 rockets fired by PIJ, 160 fell short in Gaza, 775 crossed into Israeli territory and 300 heading toward populated areas intercepted by Iron Dome for a 96% interception rate.

Shortly before the ceasefire was expected to go into place a large barrage toward central and southern Israel, including Tel Aviv and Ben-Gurion Airport sent thousands running for shelter.

After a lull of about five hours overnight, rocket sirens blared in two southern Israel communities close to the Gaza border early in the morning.

Missile fragment in lands in Sderot after being fired from the Gaza Strip, August 7, 2022. (credit: SDEROT MUNICIPALITY)

Heavy barrages towards southern Israel took place throughout the late afternoon and early evening.

The Eshkol regional council said on Sunday that a missile hit a home in the area but that there were no injuries as the family was in the home's bomb shelter.  The structure itself sustained some damage. Additionally, a fragment of a missile fell in an open area in Sderot, the municipality announced, adding that no injuries were reported. 

Joint IDF, Shin Bet and Border Police arrests of Islamic Jihad operatives in the West Bank, August 7, 2022. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

The Erez border crossing was hit by three mortar bombs fired by Islamic Jihad on Sunday afternoon, causing a fire and damaging the terminal roof leading shrapnel to fall inside the entrance hall.
 
The "area is used to facilitate the daily passage of thousands of Gazans that work in Israel," the Defense Ministry said.

Since the beginning of the operation, the IDF targeted 140 Islamic Jihad figures, including senior and anti-tank missile operatives. The military also destroyed 11 rocket launch sites, six military sites, and eight terror cells that were on the way or coming back from launching rockets.

Israel Air Force jets also destroyed an attack tunnel belonging to the Islamic Jihad in the south and central part of the Strip. While it didn't cross into Israel, it came close to the border. 

The Magen David Adom emergency service says that since the beginning of the operation, it has taken 28 people to hospital for injuries. The majority of them were in light condition or were taken for treatment for anxiety and were released from hospital shortly after.

According to the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza, 32 people including six children and four women have been killed in the Strip the majority of them Islamic Jihad operatives. Another 284 were injured. 

Joint IDF, Shin Bet and Border Police arrests of Islamic Jihad operatives in the West Bank, August 7, 2022. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON UNIT)

The IDF confirmed that 4,000 reservists were called up on Sunday, out of a cap of 25,000 troops that was approved by Defense Minister Benny Gantz on Friday. Gantz, in coordination with Prime Minister Yair Lapid approved the mobilization of the reservists under the “tzav 8” emergency call up order. 

The army said that they would replace the emergency call-up orders that were issued at the beginning of the operation and would make it easier for female and reservist soldiers to exercise their rights in the workplace and in the context of academic studies. 

"The security system and the State of Israel are committed to providing full rights to the reservists, who are an integral and essential part of the effort," Gantz said.

The orders are valid for 7 days, at the end of which the Gantz can apply to obtain the government’s approval to extend it.

West Bank arrests

Israeli security forces also arrested 20 Islamic Jihad operatives overnight in the West Bank as part of Operation Break the Wave.

The arrests were made in Jenin, Seida near Tulkarm, Anza, Ra'i, and in Tulkarem’s refugee camp, where six of the arrests took place. Suspects were also arrested in El-Khader and Beit Fajjar near Bethlehem, and in Nablus where clashes broke out with Palestinians throwing stones and opening fire on IDF troops.

Who were the targets of the IDF?

IDF Spokesperson Brig.-Gen. Ran Kohav confirmed on Sunday morning that senior Islamic Jihad operative Khaled Mansour was killed in an Israeli airstrike along with two other senior PIJ operatives who were with him in his home. According to the Israeli military, the commander of the terror group’s Rafah Brigade, Khattab Amassi, and Mansour’s deputy, Ziad Madalal.

Mansour was equivalent to a general, Kohav said, adding that the strike against him was approved and coordinated by IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Aviv Kohavi, Prime Minister Yair Lapid and Defense Minister Benny Gantz. 

Mansour was the group’s equivalent to Tayseer al-Jabari in the southern part of the Gaza Strip and was behind numerous missile and anti-tank-guided missile attacks against Israel. 

During Operation Guardian of the Walls last May, Mansour commanded over the launching of heavy rockets toward the Israeli cities of Ashdod and Ashkelon and worked to implement offensive plans against IDF forces and Israeli citizens.

According to the army, he took responsibility for the attack in which the late Major Eliraz Peretz and the late Staff Sgt. Ilan Sviatkovsky were killed in 2010.

Tisha Be'av Jerusalem tensions

Islamic Jihad addressed the killings Sunday morning, stating: "The Zionist aggression in the city of Rafah killed him, as well as the holy warriors Ziad al-Mudlal, Rafat Saleh, and four residents of our people - including a boy and two women whose bodies were found under the rubble."

The organization threatened that "Khaled Mansour's blood will ignite the defense system for Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque, which the settlers will break into today."

Hamas announced that one of its militants, 33 year-old Ahmed Afana, was killed in an Israeli strike in the Jabalia refugee camp.

"He dedicated himself to God striving until he met God for it," the group’s military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades said.

What about the attack in Jabaliya? On Sunday evening an explosion in Jabalia killed at least five people in northern Gaza, though it was unclear if it was due to a failed rocket launch or IAF strike.

An explosion in Jabaliya on Saturday night killed at least nine people, including at least four children. While it was initially blamed on an Israeli airstrike, the military denied that it played any part in it, stating that it was caused by a failed rocket launch by Islamic Jihad and that it had radar showing the launch of the rocket from a launcher place close to the mosque where the incident occurred.

"We have more and more information coming in confirming that it was a failed launch," said Kohav, not an IDF strike. "The Palestinians understand that it wasn't Israel's doing. We have nothing to hide." 

An Israel Defense Forces airstrike on an Islamic Jihad weapon storage facility in Gaza was aborted due to the presence of a civilian, the IDF spokesperson said on Sunday.

Video of the event published by the IDF shows a pedestrian walking near the residence of a PIJ operative that also housed the weapons stockpile.

"We are aborting immediately," said the IDF soldiers monitoring the strike. "Abort immediately. Abort."

The strike was reportedly carried out at a later time when the area was clear of civilians. 

"Khaled Mansour's blood will ignite the defense system for Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque, which the settlers will break into today."

Palestinian Islamic Jihad