Israel resumed attacks on the Gaza Strip on the morning of August 6, saying it was a preemptive strike against Islamic Jihad militants who were preparing to launch their rockets.
The Israeli military hit three residential buildings, one of which was completely destroyed. The Palestinian side claimed 12 dead and at least 84 injured.
In turn, the Palestinian side launched retaliatory strikes – at least 160 rockets were fired. There are no reports of Israeli casualties. The missiles are intercepted by the Israeli Iron Dome missile defense system.
UN officials, as well as the authorities of Egypt and Qatar, are calling for an end to the attacks.
On the evening of August 5, the Israeli army, during Operation Sunrise, destroyed Taysir al-Jabari, the commander of the northern division of Islamic Jihad. The group confirmed the death of the commander. Al-Jabari coordinated Islamic Jihad’s connection with the Hamas group. Also, al-Jabari was involved in numerous attacks and rocket attacks on Israeli territory.
An Israeli operation against the Islamic Jihad group ended the relative calm along the border. The last major clash was in May 2021, when at least 260 people were killed in 11 days of heavy fighting between Israel and the Palestinians.
About 2.3 million Palestinians live in the narrow coastal area of the Gaza Strip. Israel and Egypt are restricting the movement of people and goods into the enclave, citing security concerns.
Shortly before the strike on the Gaza Strip on Friday, August 5, Israel halted a planned fuel transfer, knocking out Gaza’s only power plant.
Israel introduced heightened security measures in the country and announced the call for military service of 25,000 reservists.
