by Shahar Klaiman , Israel Hayom Staff
Following Israeli airstrikes in Gaza in response to Friday's rocket attack on southern Israel, PIJ's military wing says "the enemy's threats about going to war in the Gaza Strip are nothing new. They only enhance our resolve to continue defending our people and our efforts against the occupier." Likud MK Gideon Sa'ar criticizes PM Netanyahu over Israel's response, says it needed to be "much harsher."
A man in Gaza inspects a crater caused by an Israeli missile, Saturday | Photo: EPA/Mohammed Saber
Palestinian sources told the Al-Quds
newspaper on Saturday that Palestinian Islamic Jihad is seeking to
create a new equation in the Gaza Strip following Israel's targeting of
protesters during Friday's "March of Return" border protests in the
coastal enclave.
The sources made it clear that Iran-backed PIJ was behind the latest rocket fire at Israel, which they said was in response to Israeli violations of understandings between the sides. According to the sources, Israel had agreed not to target border demonstrators with live fire but had not adhered to that promise in recent weeks.
Following a barrage of rockets from the Gaza Strip on Friday, the IDF
responded Saturday with a wave of pre-dawn airstrikes on the
Hamas-ruled enclave.
The army said it targeted sites belonging to Hamas after Palestinians fired 10 rockets into Israel late on Friday.
Eight of them were reportedly intercepted by the Iron Dome system. One projectile hit a house in Sderot, a town near the border, causing damage but no casualties, police said.
PIJ, the sources continued, opposes the continuation of mediated talks between Israel and the armed groups based in Gaza – for the purpose of securing humanitarian aid – which they deem an affront to the Palestinians. The PIJ sources claimed Israel was using the pretense of mediated talks to preoccupy and distract Palestinian factions and terrorist groups.
Following the rocket fire and Israel's subsequent response on Saturday, the sources added that mediators from Egypt, the United Nations and Qatar sought to temper the violence and prevent an escalation.
According to the Palestinian sources, Israel sent a message via Egypt that it will not accept the renewal of rocket fire, particularly while Qatar is transferring money and goods are being allowed into Gaza at a higher rate than before. Israel stressed, via the Egyptian mediators, that it will not show restraint to additional provocations, despite the political deadlock in the country.
PIJ doesn't commit to avoid escalation
The sources went on to say that the various foreign mediators have thus far failed to secure a commitment from PIJ to avoid escalating hostilities.
PIJ's military wing declared on Saturday that "the enemy's threats about going to war in the Gaza Strip are nothing new. They only enhance our resolve to continue defending our people and our efforts against the occupier."
The terrorist organization stressed it will keep "defending the [Palestinian] people as long as there is aggression."
"We will never let the Zionist entity establish new equations. This enemy won't enjoy quiet and live in tranquility and security as long as it commits crimes against the Palestinian people and occupies its lands," PIJ said.
Likud MK Gideon Sa'ar, meanwhile, criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the Israeli response to the rocket fire, saying it needed to be "much harsher."
He continued: "Israel's target needs to be dismantling Hamas and PIJ's military infrastructure in Gaza. This is just one of the main reasons we must resolve the current political crisis and form a broad national unity government."
According to MK Naftali Bennett (Yamina), "Israel is facing a national emergency. It won't be possible to postpone the thorough treatment that is required in Gaza, in conjunction with curbing Iran's ring of missiles around Israel."
Blue and White leader Benny Gantz posted to Twitter that "a government under my leadership won't tolerate a threat toward the southern residents and won't tolerate any violation of Israel's sovereignty."
Addressing Friday night's rocket fire at Israel, Gantz added: "We will restore our deterrence at all costs, even if we need to personally harm those who are spearheading the escalation."
The sources made it clear that Iran-backed PIJ was behind the latest rocket fire at Israel, which they said was in response to Israeli violations of understandings between the sides. According to the sources, Israel had agreed not to target border demonstrators with live fire but had not adhered to that promise in recent weeks.
The army said it targeted sites belonging to Hamas after Palestinians fired 10 rockets into Israel late on Friday.
Eight of them were reportedly intercepted by the Iron Dome system. One projectile hit a house in Sderot, a town near the border, causing damage but no casualties, police said.
PIJ, the sources continued, opposes the continuation of mediated talks between Israel and the armed groups based in Gaza – for the purpose of securing humanitarian aid – which they deem an affront to the Palestinians. The PIJ sources claimed Israel was using the pretense of mediated talks to preoccupy and distract Palestinian factions and terrorist groups.
Following the rocket fire and Israel's subsequent response on Saturday, the sources added that mediators from Egypt, the United Nations and Qatar sought to temper the violence and prevent an escalation.
According to the Palestinian sources, Israel sent a message via Egypt that it will not accept the renewal of rocket fire, particularly while Qatar is transferring money and goods are being allowed into Gaza at a higher rate than before. Israel stressed, via the Egyptian mediators, that it will not show restraint to additional provocations, despite the political deadlock in the country.
PIJ doesn't commit to avoid escalation
The sources went on to say that the various foreign mediators have thus far failed to secure a commitment from PIJ to avoid escalating hostilities.
PIJ's military wing declared on Saturday that "the enemy's threats about going to war in the Gaza Strip are nothing new. They only enhance our resolve to continue defending our people and our efforts against the occupier."
The terrorist organization stressed it will keep "defending the [Palestinian] people as long as there is aggression."
"We will never let the Zionist entity establish new equations. This enemy won't enjoy quiet and live in tranquility and security as long as it commits crimes against the Palestinian people and occupies its lands," PIJ said.
Likud MK Gideon Sa'ar, meanwhile, criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the Israeli response to the rocket fire, saying it needed to be "much harsher."
He continued: "Israel's target needs to be dismantling Hamas and PIJ's military infrastructure in Gaza. This is just one of the main reasons we must resolve the current political crisis and form a broad national unity government."
According to MK Naftali Bennett (Yamina), "Israel is facing a national emergency. It won't be possible to postpone the thorough treatment that is required in Gaza, in conjunction with curbing Iran's ring of missiles around Israel."
Blue and White leader Benny Gantz posted to Twitter that "a government under my leadership won't tolerate a threat toward the southern residents and won't tolerate any violation of Israel's sovereignty."
Addressing Friday night's rocket fire at Israel, Gantz added: "We will restore our deterrence at all costs, even if we need to personally harm those who are spearheading the escalation."
Shahar Klaiman , Israel Hayom Staff
Source: https://www.israelhayom.com/2019/11/03/palestinians-islamic-jihad-behind-rocket-salvo-on-israel/
Follow Middle East and Terrorism on Twitter
No comments:
Post a Comment