Operation “Breaking Dawn” The IDF and ISA targeted the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Terrorist Organization’s Northern Gaza Division Commanding Officer A short while ago, the IDF targeted a senior commander of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist organization. IDF fighter jets targeted Tayseer Jabari, the senior PIJ Commanding Officer of the terrorist group’s Northern Gaza Division. Jabari was entrusted in making many decisions in the PIJ and carried out many anti-tank missile attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers recently. In addition, approximately 10 PIJ terrorist operatives were targeted, including a terrorist squad who were on their way to carry out an anti-tank missile and sniper attack. Military bases and buildings used by the terrorist operatives were also targeted. Jabari was a senior commander in the PIJ and held a number of positions in the terrorist organization, including as the Head of Operations. He was entrusted in making many decisions inside the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist organization, and was responsible for multiple attempted terror attacks against Israeli civilians. After Majed Harazin was targeted in December 2007, Taysir Jabari progressed in his positions. He eventually replaced Baha Abu al-Ata as the Commanding Officer of the PIJ’s Gaza Division after Abu al-Ata was targeted by the IDF in Operation “Black Belt” in November 2019. During Operation “Guardian of the Walls”, Jabari fired a large number of rockets at Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip and was responsible for a PIJ attack in which a civilian was injured. A special situation has been declared on the Israeli home front within 80 km of the Gaza Strip, and the instructions are updated on the National Emergency Portal. The Home Front Command’s instructions save lives and civilians are urged to act according to them. 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.

Sorry! The requested page is not available. Homepage

عذرا ! الصفحة المطلوبة غير متوفرة الصفحة الرئيسية

Ref: 97/202 Date: 05 August 2022 Time: 08:00 GMT Today afternoon, the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) launched an offensive on the Gaza Strip that have so far killed 10 Palestinians, including a commander in al-Quds Brigades “Islamic Jihad’s military wing” and 3 civilians: a woman killed in her house and a girl killed near her house.  Also, 48 other Palestinians, including 9 children and 4 women, were injured; most of them were civilians. The offensive came 3 days after IOF declared a state of alertness, deployment of military backups and closure of crossings with the Gaza Strip, amid threats by the Israeli military and political levels to perpetuate the Israeli collective punishment and retaliatory policy against civilians.   PCHR fears that there will be more civilian casualties in an area considered among the most densely populated areas in the world and where there is not any form of protection, including public and private shelters or even safe corridors.  PCHR brings to mind that in recent offensives on the Strip, civilians and civilian objects were always under IOF’s attacks as a way of exerting pressure on the Palestinian armed groups. IOF declared that its warplanes unleashed airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, and a “special situation” has been declared on the Homefront.  Also, they declared the start of a military operation dubbed as “Breaking Dawn” against Islamic Jihad Movement.[1] IOF started the offensive with an extrajudicial execution as the Israeli military spokesperson announced, “in an operation by IDF and Shin Bet, Taysir al-Ja’abri, Islamic Jihad Commander in Northern Gaza, was killed.”[2] The latest developments are as follows: 16:15: IOF’s warplanes targeted the fifth and sixth floors of Palestine Tower in central Gaza City, immediately killing Taysir Mahmoud Mohammed al-Ja’abari (52), al-Quds Brigades Commander, and his bodyguard Salamah Muhareb ‘Abdullah ‘Aabed (39).  The airstrike caused severe damage to 13-story Palestine Tower that houses media offices organizations as well as damage to nearby shops and buildings. Few minutes later, IOF’s warplanes launched a missile at a group of people who were in the street near their houses in al-Shija’iya neighborhood, eastern Gaza.  As a result, ‘Emad ‘Abdel Rahim Ibrahim Shallah (52) and 2 civilians were killed:  One of them was a girl identified as Alaa’ ‘Abdullah Riyadh Qaddoum (5) and the other was Yousif Salman Mohammed Qaddoum (24).  Both sustained shrapnel wounds all over their body. Around the same time, Ahmed Mazen Mahmoud ‘Azzam (25) was killed in an Israeli strike on an observation post in eastern al-Zaytoun neighborhood. The Israeli strikes on Gaza City injured 36 Palestinians, including 5 children and 4 women. 16:20: an artillery shell fell on a house belonging to ‘Adnan ‘Atiyah al-‘Amour in al-Fokhari area, eastern Khan Younis.  As a result, the owner’s 22-year-old daughter, Doniana, was killed after sustaining shrapnel wounds all over her body. Around the same time, Mohammed Ahmed Nasrallah (25) was killed while another person and his daughter were injured in an Israeli strike on an observation post, northwestern Beit Lahia.  Also, 2 others were injured in a similar strike in eastern Beit Hanoun. 16:25: Fadel Mustafa Zo’arob (30) and Mohammed Hasan al-Bayouk (35) were killed after Israeli warplanes launched 2 missiles at a military site in western Khan Younis.  Also, 7 others were wounded, including 2 children, due to shrapnel scattered in the area.  One of the strikes caused damage to an ambulance in Muskat Clinic in Qizan An-Najar area after shrapnel hit it. 16:50: a man and a child were injured after a strike hit a military site in al-Brazil neighborhood, southern Rafah. Moreover, IOF’s warplanes carried out tens of airstrikes on military sites, observation posts and lands; some of them are located in residential neighborhoods, causing a lot of damage. PCHR’s fieldworkers and lawyers continue to document and investigate all these incidents as well as monitoring violations caused by the ongoing attacks, which IOF declared would take some time. PCHR strongly condemns IOF’s extrajudicial executions within an Israeli stated and official policy that has collected lives of hundreds of Palestinian political figures and activists.  This policy is in violation of the international humanitarian law rules which prohibit such kind of murders. PCHR is concerned over the killing of more civilians and destruction of more civilian objects.  PCHR emphasizes that these airstrikes violate the principles of necessity and proportionality while conducting directed attacks against densely populated areas and use of weapons based on collective punishment is a grave breach of the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 and amount to war crimes. PCHR calls upon the international community to take immediate action in order to stop the Israeli crimes and avoid any further deterioration of the situation. ——————————- [1] https://twitter.com/AvichayAdraee/status/1555543633344040961 [2] [2]https://twitter.com/AvichayAdraee/status/1555568908517756928

The Center is an independent Palestinian human rights organization (registered as a non-profit private shareholding company) based in Gaza City. By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and consent to receive updates from our company. About Us Center Units Center Staff Contact Us Contact Us pchr@pchrgaza.org +(972) 82823725 Al-Ru'ya Complex – 12th Floor, Jamal Abdel Nasser Street (Al-Thalathini), opposite Al-Azhar University and next to the Red Crescent Follow Us Facebook Instagram X YouTube All rights reserved to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights 2024 Terms and Conditions Privacy Notice

المركز هو منظمة حقوق إنسان فلسطينية مستقلة (مسجلة كشركة مساهمة خاصة غير ربحية) مقرها مدينة غزة. من خلال الاشتراك، فإنك توافق على سياسة الخصوصية الخاصة بنا وتوافق على تلقي التحديثات من شركتنا. من نحن وحدات المركزطاقم المركزمن نحنتواصل معنا تواصل معنا pchr@pchrgaza.org +(972) 82823725 مجمع الرؤيا – الطابق 12 شارع جمال عبد الناصر “الثلاثيني” مقابل جامعة الازهر وبجوار الهلال الأحمر تابعنا فيسبوك انستجرام اكس يوتيوب جميع الحقوق محفوظة للمركز الفلسطيني لحقوق الإنسان 2024 الشروط و الأحكام Privacy Notice

The funeral procession of Taysir al-Jabari, a leader in the Al-Quds Brigades, who was killed in an Israeli attack in Gaza.

تشييع جثمان القيادي في ســـرايـــا القــــدس تيسير الجعبري الذي ارتقى باستهدافٍ إسرائيليٍ بغزة.

#Watch the aftermath of the Israeli bombing of a residential apartment in Palestine Tower, west of Gaza City

#شاهد آثار القصف الإسرائيلي لشقة سكنية في برج فلسطين غرب مدينة غزة

This webpage was generated by the domain owner using Sedo Domain Parking. Disclaimer: Sedo maintains no relationship with third party advertisers. Reference to any specific service or trade mark is not controlled by Sedo nor does it constitute or imply its association, endorsement or recommendation.

The Israeli army releases a video documenting the assassination of the commander of the Al-Quds Brigades in Gaza City.

جيش الاحتلال ينشر فيديو يوثق عملية اغتيال قائد سر..ايا القد..س في مدينة #غزة

Civilian casualties resulted from Israeli shelling of a residential apartment in the Palestine Tower, west of Gaza City.

إصابات في صفوف المدنيين نتيجة القصف الإسرائيلي على شقة سكنية في برج فلسطين غرب مدينة غزة

#Image of the occupation bombing of residential apartments inside the Palestine Tower in the center of Gaza City.

#صورة قصف الاحتلال لشقق سكنية داخل برج #فلسطين وسط مدينة #غزة.

A strike just occurred in the vicinity of Palestine Tower.

استهداف قبل قليل في محيط برج فلسطين

The aftermath of the Israeli bombing that targeted an apartment in the Palestine Tower in the center of Gaza City.

آثار القصف الإسرائيلي الذي طال شقة في برج #فلسطين وسط مدينة #غزة

#Urgent Shehab correspondent: Injuries reported as a result of the occupation targeting a residential apartment on top of the Palestine Tower

#عاجل مراسل شهاب: نقل إصابات جراء استهداف الاحتلال شقة سكنية أعلى برج فلسطين

The aftermath of the Israeli bombing that targeted a floor in the "Palestine" tower in the center of #Gaza city, where there are reports of injuries at the site.

آثار القصف الإسرائيلي الذي استهدف طابقا في برج"فلسطين" وسط مدينة #غزة حيث يجري الحديث عن وقوع إصابات في المكان.

#Photos of civilian casualties resulting from the bombing of a residential apartment in Palestine Tower, west of Gaza City #GazaUnderAttack

#صور إصابات في صفوف المدنيين نتيجة ا.لقصف على شقة سكنية في برج فلسطين غرب مدينة غزة #غزة_تحت_القصف

A rise in civilian casualties following the bombing of #Palestine_Tower northwest of #Gaza

ارتفاع الإصابات بين المدنيين إثر قصف #برج_فلسطين شمال غرب #غزة

#Photos | Dozens of civilians injured as a result of Israeli shelling of Palestine Tower, west of #Gaza City. #GazaUnderAttack #GazaResists

#صور| إصابة عشرات المدنيين نتيجة القصف الإسرائيلي على برج فلسطين غرب مدينة #غزة. #غزة_تحت_القصف #غزه_تقاوم

Published On 6/8/2022 | Last updated: 04:17 PM (Mecca Time) A surveillance camera captured the moment a Palestinian worker was injured inside a shop near the Palestine Tower in central Gaza, as a result of the Israeli bombardment that has been targeting the besieged Gaza Strip since yesterday afternoon. The video shows a wall suddenly collapsing on the worker while he was cleaning, with debris and dust flying around the area, a result of the bombing by the occupation army's aircraft. Several young men tried to rescue the man and pull him out from under the rubble to ensure his safety. The footage did not reveal the man's fate or his condition. Similarly, social media users circulated another video showing the moment Palestinian girl Alaa Al-Daabala was filming scenes of the Israeli bombardment that targeted the Beit Lahia area in the northern Gaza Strip, only to discover by chance that her house was among the targets. The video reflects the terror and panic the girl experienced after realizing her house had been bombed while she was trying to film what was happening outside, thinking it was in a neighboring area. Adding to the moments of terror that Gaza residents experienced suddenly on Friday afternoon, a Palestinian woman described how a celebration turned Her son's wedding turned into a state of grief and fear with the start of the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip, as she said, "Suddenly we were blown away from our places and thrown out." Receive instant alerts and updates based on your interests. Be the first to know about important stories. In a video recorded in front of her demolished home, she said, “What they’re doing is a sin. They killed children, women, and young men. They didn’t warn us or ask us to leave the area.” The Palestinian woman explained that she and several other women were preparing to celebrate her son’s wedding, saying, “They ruined the groom’s joy. The women went out with their hair uncovered, and it’s a shame they went out like that.” Gaza residents spent a shocking and sorrowful night, mourning 11 martyrs, including a 5-year-old girl, as a result of Israeli shelling of several areas in the Strip. On Saturday morning, Israeli warplanes launched new airstrikes on the Gaza Strip as part of a military operation that began Friday afternoon. This tension began last Monday following the Israeli occupation’s arrest of Islamic Jihad leader Bassam al-Saadi in Jenin refugee camp, in the northern West Bank. On Tuesday, Israel announced a series of measures against the Gaza Strip, including closing the crossings connecting it to the Strip for fear of a response from Islamic Jihad to al-Saadi’s arrest. It also imposed restrictions on the movement of Israelis living near the Gaza Strip. Source: Al Jazeera Mubasher + Social media

Published On 6/8/2022|آخر تحديث: 04:17 PM (توقيت مكة)وثقت كاميرا مراقبة لحظة إصابة عامل فلسطيني داخل أحد المتاجر المجاورة لبرج فلسطين وسط غزة، جراء القصف الإسرائيلي الذي يتعرض له القطاع المحاصر، منذ عصر أمس.وأظهر الفيديو سقوط جدار فجأة على العامل أثناء قيامه بمهام التنظيف، وتطاير الركام والأتربة في المكان، جراء قصف بطائرات جيش الاحتلال.وحاول عدد من الشباب إنقاذ الرجل وإخراجه من تحت الأنقاض للتأكد من سلامته، ولم يكشف المقطع عن مصير الرجل أو حالته الصحية.وعلى هذا النحو، تداول رواد مواقع التواصل الاجتماعي مقطعا آخر يرصد لحظة تصوير الفتاة الفلسطينية آلاء الدعبلة لمشاهد القصف الإسرائيلي الذي تعرضت له منطقة بيت لاهيا شمالي قطاع غزة، لتكتشف بالصدفة أن منزلها هو المستهدف من الهجمات.ويعكس المقطع حالة الرعب والفزع التي مرت بها الفتاة بعدما اكتشفت تعرض منزلها للقصف خلال محاولتها تصوير ما يحدث بالخارج، ظنًّا منها أنه في منطقة مجاورة.واستكمالًا للحظات الرعب التي عاشها سكان قطاع غزة بشكل مفاجئ، عصر الجمعة، تصف سيدة فلسطينية كيف تحوّل الاحتفال بزفاف ابنها إلى حالة من الحزن والخوف مع بداية القصف الإسرائيلي لقطاع غزة قائلة “فجأة طيرنا من أماكنا واتحدفنا حدف لبرا”.تلقّ تنبيهات وتحديثات فورية بحسب اهتمامك. كن أول من يعلم بالقصص المهمةوروت خلال مقطع مصور من أمام منزلها المهدم “حرام عليهم اللي بيعملوه، قتلوا الأطفال والنساء والشباب، ما حذرونا وما طلبوا منا نخلي المنطقة”.وأوضحت المرأة الفلسطينية أنها كانت تستعد مع العديد من النساء للاحتفال بحفل زفاف ابنها وقالت “كسروا فرحة عريس، النساء خرجن بشعرهن والله حرام يطلعوا هيك”.وأمضى سكان غزة ليلة صادمة وحزينة ودعوا خلالها 11 شهيدا بينهم طفلة عمرها 5 سنوات، جراء القصف الإسرائيلي لعدة مناطق في القطاع.وشنّت المقاتلات الحربية الإسرائيلية صباح السبت، غارات جديدة على قطاع غزة ضمن عملية عسكرية بدأتها عصر أمس الجمعة.وبدأ هذا التوتر، الاثنين الماضي، عقب اعتقال الاحتلال الإسرائيلي القيادي في حركة الجهاد الإسلامي، بسّام السعدي في مخيم جنين، شمالي الضفة الغربية.وأعلنت إسرائيل، الثلاثاء، عن مجموعة من الإجراءات ضد قطاع غزة منها إغلاق المعابر التي تربطها مع القطاع خشية من رد حركة الجهاد على اعتقال السعدي، كما فرضت قيودًا على تحركات الإسرائيليين القاطنين في محيط قطاع غزة.المصدر: الجزيرة مباشر + مواقع التواصل الاجتماعي

Sorry, the page doesn't exist. The page you're looking for may have been deleted, renamed, or is temporarily unavailable. Please try searching for similar content.

عفواً .. الصفحة غير موجودةربما تم حذف الصفحة التي تبحث عنها أو تم تغيير اسمها أو أنها غير متاحة مؤقتًا.حاول البحث عن محتوى مماثل

Opinions How the Israelis Exploited the Partition Plan... Tawfiq Abu Shumar Opinions On Naming in Ramallah Abdul Ghani Salameh Opinions The Displacement of Palestinians: An Israeli Race... Ashraf Al-Ajrami Opinions Stealing Joy From the Depths of Oppression Nabil Amr

آراء كيف وظَّف الإسرائيليون قرار التقسيم... توفيق أبو شومر آراء عن التسميات في رام الله عبد الغني سلامة آراء تهجير الفلسطينيين: سباق إسرائيلي... أشرف العجرمي آراء اختلاس الفرح من أعماق القهر نبيل عمرو

Israeli Aggression on the Gaza Strip Health Ministry: 10 Martyrs, Including a Child and a Woman, and 55 Injured in Israeli Aggression on Gaza Gaza, August 5, 2022 (WAFA) – The Ministry of Health announced this evening the martyrdom of 10 Palestinians, including 5-year-old Alaa Qaddoum and a 23-year-old woman, and the injury of 55 others in a new Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip. Israeli warplanes launched several missile strikes on the Gaza Strip today, Friday, while Israeli artillery fired a number of shells targeting agricultural lands and sites in several areas east of the Strip. Our correspondent reported that Israeli warplanes fired two missiles at two apartments on the seventh floor of the Palestine Tower in the Rimal neighborhood, west of Gaza City, killing Taysir Mahmoud al-Jaabari and injuring others. A vehicle in the Shuja'iyya neighborhood, east of Gaza City, was also targeted, resulting in the martyrdom of two people inside, including five-year-old Alaa Qaddoum. Several civilians, including children, were injured in an Israeli airstrike on the town of al-Fakhari, east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. At least two other locations east of the city were also targeted, resulting in fires and damage. Israeli tanks shelled positions east of Beit Lahia and Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip, as well as in central Gaza and the Sharab al-Asal area east of Khan Younis in the south, causing damage to nearby homes and property. The Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip continues, with reconnaissance aircraft patrolling the skies over Gaza and warplanes flying intermittently.

العدوان الإسرائيلي على قطاع غزة الصحة: 10 شهداء بينهم طفلة وسيدة و55 إصابة في عدوان إسرائيلي على غزة غزة 5-8-2022 وفا- أعلنت وزارة الصحة، مساء اليوم الجمعة، استشهاد 10 مواطنين بينهم الطفلة ألاء قدوم (5 أعوام) وسيدة (23عاما)، وإصابة 55 آخرين بجروح مختلفة في عدوان إسرائيلي جديد على قطاع غزة. وشنت طائرات الاحتلال الإسرائيلي، اليوم الجمعة، عدة غارات صاروخية على قطاع غزة، فيما أطلقت مدفعية الاحتلال عددا من القذائف استهدفت أراض زراعية ومواقعاً في مناطق عدة شرق القطاع. وأفاد مراسلنا بأن طائرات الاحتلال الحربية قصفت بصاروخين شقتين سكنيتين في الطابق السابع بـ"برج فلسطين" في حي الرمال غرب مدينة غزة، ما أدى إلى استشهاد المواطن تيسير محمود الجعبري وإصابة آخرين، إضافة إلى مركبة في حي الشجاعية شرق غزة، ما أدى إلى استشهاد اثنين في المركبة بينهم طفلة هي ألاء قدوم البالغة من العمر خمسة أعوام. كما أصيب عدد من المواطنين بينهم أطفال في غارة شنتها طائرات الاحتلال على بلدة الفخاري شرق خان يونس جنوب قطاع غزة، إضافة إلى استهداف موقعين على الأقل شرق المدينة ما أدى إلى اشتعال النيران فيهما وإلحاق أضرار. وقصفت دبابات الاحتلال مواقعا شرق بلدتي بيت لاهيا وبيت حانون شمال القطاع، إضافة إلى وسط قطاع غزة، ومنطقة "شراب العسل" شرق خان يونس جنوب القطاع، ما أوقع أضرارا في منازل وممتلكات المواطنين المجاورة. ويتواصل العدوان الإسرائيلي على القطاع، حيث تجوب طائرات الاستطلاع مختلف أجواء غزة، فيما الطائرات الحربية تجوب الأجواء بين الفينة والأخرى.

Gaza - Citizens inspect the damage caused by the Israeli occupation targeting a residential apartment in the Palestine Tower in Gaza City

غزة - مواطنون يتفقدون الأضرار الناجمة عن استهداف الاحتلال لشقة سكنية في برج فلسطين بمدينة غزة

Gaza - Citizens inspect the damage caused by the Israeli occupation's targeting of a residential apartment in the Palestine Tower in Gaza City (Photo - WAFA)

غزة - مواطنون يتفقدون الأضرار الناجمة عن استهداف الاحتلال لشقة سكنية في برج فلسطين بمدينة غزة (تصوير- وفا)

Praise be to God who saved me after I suffered several injuries and bruises in different parts of my body as a result of the targeting of the Palestine Tower on Martyrs Street. Praise be to God, I left the hospital safely.

الحمد لله الذي نجاني بعد تعرضي لعدة أصابات و كدمات في أنحاء مختلفة في جسدي أثر الاستهداف التي تعرضا له برج فلسطين في شارع شهداء و الحمد لله تم خروجي من المشفي بالسلامة .

Lawyer Faisal Arhim Injured Following the Targeting of Palestine Tower We wish a speedy recovery to the esteemed lawyer Faisal Arhim, who was injured as a result of the targeting of Palestine Tower and was transferred to Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza for treatment. Central Movement Office for Lawyers Fatah Movement Bloc in the Palestinian Bar Association August 5, 2022

اصابة الاستاذ فيصل ارحيم المحامى اثر استهداف برج فلسطين نتمنى السلامة والشفاء العاجل للاستاذ الفاضل فيصل ارحيم المحامى بعد تعرضه لاصابة نتيجة. استهداف برج فلسطين ونقله لمستشفى الشفاء بغزة لتلقى العلاج المكتب الحركى المركزى للمحامين كتلة حركة فتح فى نقابة المحامين الفلسطينيين ٥ اغسطس ٢٠٢٢

May God grant you a good evening. · Hide Original · Rate this translation

الله يمسيكم بالخير May God have a good evening   · Hide Original   · Rate this translation

Gaza City – Israel attacked the besieged Gaza Strip with warplanes on Friday, killing at least 10 people including a commander of the Islamic Jihad group and a young girl.Taysir al-Jabari, a commander of the al-Quds Brigades, the military arm of the Islamic Jihad, died in an air raid on an apartment in the Palestine Tower in the centre of Gaza City, the group said.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 480% of Gaza children suffer depression after 15 years of blockadelist 2 of 4Fifteen years of Gaza blockade: Open the doors of our prison nowlist 3 of 4Impoverished Gaza economy struggles under Israeli blockadelist 4 of 4Israel launches air raids on Gaza Strip, no casualties reportedend of listThe health ministry in Gaza said at least 10 people were killed including al-Jabari and a five-year-old girl. At least 55 people were wounded and being treated at hospitals as a result of the Israeli raids.The five-year-old girl, Alaa Qaddoum, was killed in a missile attack along with her father while they rode a motorcycle to go shopping for groceries.“Her mother Rasha is in great shock. She lost her daughter and her husband in a blink of an eye and left behind three children. We are all shocked. What is the fault of an innocent five-year-old girl to be killed in this way?” family member Mohammad Abu Jabal told Al Jazeera.Smoke poured out of the seventh floor of the building in Gaza City. Civil defence teams rushed to the scene to evacuate people and put out a fire caused by the attack.“We’ve just had Friday lunch and my children were playing. Suddenly, a huge explosion hit the tower in which we live. We ran away. The sound was massive. We were very shocked as the place is full of civilians. I saw many casualties that were evacuated,” one resident told Al Jazeera with blood covering his clothes.Gaza-based author and activist Rana Shubair, who lives in the al-Remal neighbourhood in the western side of the Gaza Strip, said she heard “four to five loud bangs” when Israel attacked the Palestine Tower nearby.“I was asleep and found myself waking up running, wondering what happened,” Shubair said.“There was panic in the area, people running. You can imagine … the amount of horror that this caused for the people living in the building,” she added. “There were children playing … this was something really unpredictable for us.”Get instant alerts and updates based on your interests. Be the first to know when big stories happen.Multiple blasts could be heard and seen throughout Gaza. Israeli reconnaissance drones could be heard hovering over the besieged enclave.Attacks also struck the southern areas of Khan Younis and Rafah, as well as the al-Shuja’iya neighbourhood.In the first response to the attack, rocket fire from Gaza towards Israel could be seen as Israel’s Iron Dome anti-missile system lit up the night’s sky with explosions.‘Duty to defend ourselves’Renewed air raids also struck the eastern Gaza Strip, with Israeli fighter jets continuing to roam above the densely populated city on Friday evening, Al Jazeera’s Youmna al-Sayed reported.The attacks follow days of tension with the Islamic Jihad after the arrest of senior Palestinian leader Bassam al-Saadi in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin.They also came after days of border closures, including the closure of the Karem Abu Salem commercial crossing (called Kerem Shalom by Israel), which is responsible for the flow of fuel needed for Gaza’s sole power plant.In a statement, the Islamic Jihad said, “The enemy has begun a war targeting our people, and we all have the duty to defend ourselves and our people, and not allow the enemy to get away with its actions which are aimed at undermining the resistance and national steadfastness.”Ghazi Hamad, a senior official for Hamas – the group that governs the Strip – said the latest attack is “a brutal crime, a massacre done by the Israeli occupation against our people”.Hamad told Al Jazeera there is “no justification” for the attacks, adding that the Palestinian factions have the right to defend themselves and “protect” their people.According to him, factions in Gaza have maintained “good coordination” and are exploring the “best option for the Palestinian people”.“I think Israel is not interested in any mediation … there is no place for mediation, no place for peaceful talks,” Hamad said. “Our people are waiting for the Palestinian resistance to take the decision and retaliate.”An Israeli military spokesman said “we are assuming about 15 killed in action” in Gaza, referring to Palestinian group fighters.“We haven’t finished yet,” spokesman Richard Hecht told reporters, adding Israel expected retaliatory rocket fire from Palestinian factions in Gaza.Israeli also announced 25,000 reserve troops were being activated.Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said his country has “zero tolerance” for attacks from Gaza but “no interest” in a broader battle.‘A special situation’Earlier on Friday, the Israeli army said it was attacking Gaza, adding “a special situation has been declared on the Israeli home front”.Israel closed roads around Gaza earlier this week and sent reinforcements to the border as it braced for a response after the arrest of a senior member of the Islamic Jihad group in the occupied West Bank on Monday.Fawzi Barhoum, a Hamas spokesman, said in a statement it would respond to Friday’s “escalation”.“The Israeli enemy is the one who started the escalation against the resistance in Gaza, and a new crime was committed, and it bears the full responsibility,” said Barhoum.“The resistance will defend our people in the Gaza Strip with everything it has and will continue to respond.”‘External strength’Ahmed Mudalal, an Islamic Jihad official in Gaza, said the group had made demands on Israel through Egyptian mediators, including the release of detained leader al-Saadi and another prisoner, a halt to West Bank raids, and the lifting of the Gaza blockade. He said they have not yet received a response.Israel and Hamas, which govern Gaza, have fought four wars and engaged in several smaller skirmishes during the past 15 years.Washington defended Israel’s deadly air raids on Friday.“The United States fully supports Israel’s right to defend itself against terrorist groups that have taken the lives of innocent civilians in Israel,” a White House National Security Council official told Al Jazeera. “We are urging all sides to avoid further escalation.”Israeli defence minister Benny Gantz visited communities near Gaza on Friday, saying authorities were preparing “actions that will remove the threat from this region”, without elaborating.“We will operate with internal resilience and external strength in order to restore routine life in Israel’s south,” he said. “We do not seek conflict, yet we will not hesitate to defend our citizens, if required.”Israel and Egypt have maintained a tight blockade on Gaza for 14 years, and critics hae said the policy amounts to the collective punishment of the region’s two million Palestinian residents.