Israeli air strikes hit Gaza and escalate fears after the raid on Jenin | News of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

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Israel launched several air strikes on the besieged Gaza Strip a day after nine Palestinians, including an elderly woman, were killed in the Jenin camp of Israeli forces, in one of the deadliest raids in the occupied West Bank by the Israeli army in years.

Local sources in Gaza told Al-Jazeera that Israeli warplanes bombed the Al-Maghazi refugee camp in the center of the Strip, with no less than 13 raids in the early hours of Friday.

The al-Zaytoun neighborhood south of Gaza City was also hit, as well as an open area east of Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza.

Eyewitnesses and local media reported that Israeli drones fired two missiles at targets in Gaza before striking the fighter jets.

Al Jazeera correspondent Maram Hamid said there was no immediate news of casualties, and “cautious calm” had returned to Gaza by morning.

The Israeli military said the air strikes on Gaza – one of the world’s most densely populated areas with a population of 2.1 million – came after two rockets were fired towards Israel around midnight (2200 GMT).

Sirens sounded in southern Israel, where the first two rockets were fired, and then again after the Israeli air strikes.

The Israeli military said the missiles were intercepted by Israel’s air defense system, and Israel’s Channel 12 broadcast footage of Israeli interceptor missiles being fired into the night sky over the city of Ashkelon, about 12 kilometers (7 miles) north of Gaza.

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the rocket fire later on Friday.

Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem had said earlier that the armed groups in Gaza “will continue to operate [their] The duty to defend the Palestinian people and their sanctities, and it remains the shield and sword of the people.”

The Israeli air strikes and missiles followed the killing of nine people during a raid by Israeli forces on the Jenin refugee camp. At least 20 people were wounded in what was described as one of the bloodiest days in the West Bank since Israel intensified raids at the beginning of 2021.

Israeli forces also shot a 22-year-old Palestinian in the town of Al-Ram, north of Jerusalem.

Four of the wounded are in critical condition, and among the dead is an elderly woman identified by the Jenin Hospital authorities as Magda Obaid.

The Obeid family said they were shot while looking out their window.

The Palestinians described the Jenin raid as a “massacre”.

Escalation concerns

In Gaza, there were fears that Israeli airstrikes, after the Jenin raid, signaled the outbreak of a new conflict, just five months after Israel’s last major assault on the besieged enclave killed at least 49 people. .

My children have woken up [after the Israeli air attacks] Anas Abu Muailiq, who lives with his family in Maghazi, told Al Jazeera… It was very loud. “My house and windows shook violently, there were flames nearby – it turned out that a resistance position near our house had been bombed.”

Abu Maalek added, “These short military escalations are often a prelude to wars, and we do not want that.” “All we want is to live in peace and stability, and enough is what happens to us.”

Israel’s Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, said on Friday that the IDF had been ordered “to prepare for action … in case we need to continue – until calm returns to the citizens of Israel.”

However, as the situation calmed down on Friday morning, the Israeli military allowed normal routines for Israelis living near Gaza, with shops and schools open.

Speaking from Jerusalem, Al Jazeera’s Elias Karam said the Israeli assessment is that “this wave of confrontation is over” and that the exchange of Palestinian rocket fire and Israeli air strikes “did not breach the normal rules of engagement” between the two sides.

But Karam added that the next week will be crucial in determining whether the violence will escalate.

In the West Bank, on Thursday, people filled the streets in solidarity with Jenin as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced three days of mourning.

Palestinian Authority spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh said that Abbas cut off security coordination with Israel “in light of the repeated aggression against our people and the undermining of signed agreements.” He said the Palestinians intended to file complaints with the United Nations Security Council, the International Criminal Court and other international bodies about the Israeli violence.

Diplomats said the United Arab Emirates, China and France had asked the UN Security Council to meet behind closed doors on Friday about the attacks.

Tor Winsland, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, said on Twitter that he was “deeply concerned” and “saddened” by the violence and that he was engaging with the Israeli and Palestinian authorities to “de-escalate tensions, restore calm and avoid further conflict”.

#UNES: @TWennesland: Deeply disturbed and saddened by the ongoing cycle of violence. Essential to immediately reduce tensions and prevent further loss of life. Urges, and keeps busy with Compositions /, 🇮🇱 & 🇵🇸. To calm tensions, restore calm, and avoid further conflict. Full statement 👇 pic.twitter.com/KBIGcjnG7Q

– UNSCO (@UNSCO_MEPP) January 26, 2023

Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir praised Israeli forces for the Jenin raid, saying that those who try to “harm our people should know that his blood was shed.”

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