WATCH VIDEO: More than 800 rockets fired at Israel from Gaza as of 10pm local time
IDF strikes 192 terror targets in ongoing operation as cease fire talks break down
Following the announcement regarding the elimination of Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) commander Ali Hassan Ghali this morning, there were scattered reports of attacks in the Gaza Envelope.
The Israel Defense Forces' Home Front Command announced earlier this morning that schools within 40 km (25 miles) of Gaza would remain closed for the day.
Red alert sirens activated at 8:22 this morning in the town of Kissufim near the Gaza border. Following that, there were four additional launches detected between 8:24 and 10:22.
No direct hits were reported. Most landed in open areas, while some were intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome air missile defense system.
Palestinian media reported IDF airstrikes this morning following the initial rocket launches. The IDF then confirmed that it struck a mortar launch site belonging to PIJ in the northern Gaza Strip.
The airstrike came after six mortars were fired from Gaza towards Kissufim, Nirim and Magen, in the Gaza Envelope.
Since the start of Operation Shield and Arrow, over 800 rockets have been fired toward Israel from Gaza. About 152 of those fell into Gaza, and 179 were intercepted by air defense systems. This represents close to a 95% interception rate for rockets heading to populated areas.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who is also a member of the Defense Ministry, said this morning, “From our perspective if they stop firing at us, there’s no reason to continue.”
He also sent a warning to PIJ.
“If they continue, we will crush them and hit them — the IDF is doing this, the Air Force is doing this, the army is ready with further rounds of strikes.”
PIJ is reportedly demanding that Israel stop targeted killings as part of ceasefire negotiations.
“I assume that there are contacts through the Egyptians and others, but if one of the jihad's demands is that Israel stop the targeted killings, the answer will be absolutely negative,” Israel's Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Yisrael Katz said in an interview with Ynet news.
The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
