Skip to main content
ap22335352636925.jpg

Israel Prepares for Possible Gaza Rocket Barrage after Death of Islamic Jihad Leader

Share This article

Jerusalem, Israel – Security forces in Israel are preparing for rockets launched from the Gaza Strip following the death of a Palestinian Islamic Jihad commander near the northern Israeli city of Jenin Thursday.

Both Hamas and Islamic Jihad threatened retaliation after Brigade Commander Muhammad Ayman al-Saadi and another terrorist were killed in clashes with Israeli troops in the village of Burqin.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have conducted raids throughout the West Bank (biblical Judea and Samaria) for months, as terror attacks planned from there rose dramatically in 2022. During the raid that killed al-Saadi, the IDF also confiscated M-16 rifles. The commander was wanted by Israel for shooting at soldiers and distributing firearms.

Both Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, threatened to retaliate for the deaths. Palestinian Islamic Jihad spokesman Tariq Ezz El Din warned in a statement that the killings “will not pass without a response.”

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid hailed the IDF action, referring to it as "a direct continuation of our uncompromising policy in the fight against terrorism."

Palestinian sources said 20 Palestinians were wounded in the heavy fighting.

***Please sign up for CBN Newsletters and download the CBN News app to ensure you keep receiving the latest news from a distinctly Christian perspective.***

Share This article

About The Author

John
Waage

John Waage has covered politics and analyzed elections for CBN New since 1980, including primaries, conventions, and general elections. He also analyzes the convulsive politics of the Middle East.