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Edited by: TJVNews.com

The IDF overnight Monday announced the beginning of Operation Shield and Arrow, as part of which the IDF and Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) targeted the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization’s Northern Gaza Division Commanding Officer, responsible for the rocket fire toward Israel in the past month; a senior operative and coordinator of terrorism in Judea and Samaria from Gaza; and the Secretary of the Military Council, as was reported by Israel National News.

One of the terrorists who were eliminated is Khalil Bahitini, responsible for the rocket fire toward Israel in the past month. Bahitini is the senior operational officer of Islamic Jihad and the commander of the Northern Gaza Division.

INN reported that Bahitini was entrusted with approving and carrying out all terrorist activities from northern Gaza as well as, planning and directing terrorist attacks on Israeli civilians and planned shooting at Israel in the immediate future.

Bahitini, 44, lived in Gaza City. He started his activity in the Islamic Jihad in the late 90s and throughout the years was involved in many terroristic acts against Israel including- suicide bombings, explosive attacks, rocket fire and directing terrorist activities in Judea and Samaria, as was reported by INN.

After the elimination of Tayseer Jabri during operation “Breaking Dawn” in August 2022, Bahitini took over his position. Bahitini was a member of the terrorist organization’s military council and had direct and active contact with senior members of the Islamic Jihad’s Political Bureau.

INN also reported that the second senior Islamic Jihad terrorist to be eliminated was Tarek Az Aldin, who directed Islamic Jihad operations in Judea and Samaria from Gaza. Recently, he was planning and direction multiple attacks against Israeli civilians. Az Aldin 49, is originally from A’arbe in Samaria.

In recent years, Az Aldin was promoted in the commanding chain of the organization. He was entrusted with the coordination between the Islamic Jihad in Judea and Samaria as well as transferring funds for terrorism from Gaza to Judea and Samaria, INN said.

Az Aldin was also responsible for disturbing inciting content of the terrorist organization in Israel meant to promote and encourage terrorist attacks on Israeli civilians.

Also eliminated was Jahed Ahnam, Secretary of Cooperation for the terrorist organization in Gaza.

INN reported that Ahnam, 62, resided in Rafiah, and was one of the most senior members of the organization. He previously served in key positions in the terrorist organization including the Commanding Officer of the Islamic Jihads’ Southern Gaza Brigade and Secretary of the Military Council.

In his last position, he was entrusted with coordinating weapons and money transfers between the Hamas terrorist organization and the Islamic Jihad, according to the INN report.

Ahnam operated in promoting terrorism in Gaza, Judea and Samaria and around the world.

Furthermore, the IDF targeted additional terrorist targets belonging to the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization.

The attacks set the stage for what is likely to be a new round of heavy fighting, the AP reported. The airstrikes blew out the top floor of an apartment building, a house in Gaza City and a third house in the southern town of Rafah. The Palestinian Health Ministry said 20 people were wounded, and that some were in serious or critical condition.

Israel said it also targeted several militant training sites before the airstrikes halted at daybreak. The AP also reported that after an hourslong lull, the Israeli military said it struck terrorists driving anti-tank guided missiles to a launch site in the enclave’s southern city of Khan Younis. The Palestinian Civil Defense reported that two people were killed in the strike, without providing their identities. No terror group immediately claimed them as members. Images circulated showing the targeted car burnt to a blackened skeleton.

At midday, tens of thousands of people took part in two funerals, with at least 10 bodies carried on stretchers through the crowded streets in a mass procession in Gaza City, the AP reported.

Such targeted killings are rare, and in the past, Palestinian terror groups have retaliated with heavy barrages of rocket fire, the AP reported.

Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, Israel’s chief military spokesman, described the three terrorists as “a source of instability.” The AP reported that he alleged that Az Aldin, for instance, had been trying to establish a rocket-manufacturing operation in the Judea and Samaria region.

The Israeli airstrikes drew condemnation from Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh, Jordan’s foreign ministry and the Egyptian government, which often mediates between Israel and Palestinian terror groups in the Gaza Strip, according to the AP report. The Arab League denounced the airstrikes on Gaza as “atrocious.” The European Union said it was “gravely concerned” and regretted the loss of civilian life.

Palestinian terrorists vowed revenge. The AP reported that Dawood Shahab, an Islamic Jihad official, said there would be a “unified Palestinian response” to the strikes at a time and place of the group’s choosing.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh warned that Israel will “pay the price” for the killings. “Assassinating the leaders with a treacherous operation will not bring security to the occupier, but rather more resistance,” Haniyeh, who lives in exile, said in a statement, as was reported by the AP.

Islamic Jihad and Hamas are both Iranian-backed groups that oppose Israel’s existence and possess large arsenals of rockets and other weapons.

The AP reported that in recent years, the larger and more powerful Hamas has stayed mostly on the sidelines, while allowing Islamic Jihad to carry out attacks.

Islamic Jihad bombarded Israel with dozens of rockets last week after one of its senior members died from a hunger strike while in Israeli custody. The AP reported that the Israeli military responded with airstrikes and the exchange of fire ended with a cease-fire mediated by Egypt, the United Nations and Qatar.

The airstrikes are similar to ones in 2022 in which Israel bombed locations housing commanders of Islamic Jihad, setting off a three-day blitz that saw the group lose its two top commanders and dozens of other terrorists, the AP reported.

Meanwhile, the Home Front Command instructed residents of the communities near the border with the Gaza Strip to remain in the vicinity of shelters until further notice, according to the INN report.

The Home Front Command also announced that until Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. there will be no classes in the Gaza envelope, West Lachish, West Negev, Lachish and in the central Negev.

INN also reported that in these areas, gatherings of up to 10 people will be permitted in open areas and up to 100 people inside a building. Arriving at workplaces will only be permitted when it is possible to reach a protected space in a sufficient amount of time.

There are no restrictions in other areas of Israel.

In addition, Major General Ghasan Alyan, Head of the Unit for Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories, announced the closure of the Erez and Kerem Shalom crossings for the passage of people and goods from the Gaza Strip to Israel – and vice versa, INN reported.

The decision will take effect immediately and will be in effect until further notice.

INN also said that Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich commented on the Israeli strikes in Gaza and tweeted, “The citizens of Israel are in good hands. Thank you to the IDF and the security forces for the execution and to the Prime Minister and Defense Minister for leading the move. A big hug to the residents of the south and thank you to the citizens of Israel who give their trust even when it is impossible to say everything in real time. The IDF is ready to continue.”

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir also commented on the strikes on his Twitter account and wrote, “It’s about time,” according to the INN report.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant commented on the elimination of the terrorists and wrote on his Twitter account, “The IDF and the Shin Bet tonight precisely carried out their mission against the leadership of the Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip. Any terrorist who harms the citizens of Israel will regret it. We will pursue and overtake out enemies.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened a press conference on Tuesday evening together with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and Shin Bet chief Ronan Bar at the end of the cabinet meeting that dealt with Operation Shield and Arrow, INN reported.

“This morning, the State of Israel carried out a decisive and justified action. In Operation Shield and Arrow, the IDF eliminated the senior leaders of the Islamic Jihad in Gaza. They are responsible for launching the rockets last week and directing many terrorist operations in Judea and Samaria,” Netanyahu began.

INN reported that he added, “In addition to this, we attacked the central terrorist infrastructure of Islamic Jihad in Gaza, I am speaking first and foremost about the destruction of weapons factories, ammunition and rockets. Already a week ago, against the background of the missile attack on the Gaza periphery communities, I, together with the Minister of Defense, ordered our forces to strike the leaders of the terrorists who were responsible for the shooting.”

“I understand very well the desire to immediately harm those who harm us, it is understandable and natural. But it has already been said that ‘For by wise counsel shall you make war.’ And this is how we act, we will always act against those who seek to take our lives, and we do it on our own terms – at a time and place of our choosing. Countermeasures became possible after a brilliant intelligence effort. We reached them at the same time in their hiding places. We make every effort to avoid harming the uninvolved. This is precisely the difference between us and our enemy, they seek to harm the innocent first on purpose, while we do everything to prevent this,” Netanyahu said.

“While we deplore any harm to civilians, they celebrate any harm to small children, women and men who have no part in the war effort. Our principle is clear, whoever harms us, we harm him. We are in the midst of a campaign, in the coming days we will all be required to be strong and resilient. A week ago, when we made the decision on the operation, I ordered, together with the Minister of Defense, the security forces to prepare for any scenario of escalation, and possibly more than one. Any escalation will be met with a crushing response,” Netanyahu said.

INN reported that Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said: “On Tuesday, exactly one week ago, the Islamic Jihad [terror organization] fired rockets indiscriminately at Israeli citizens living in Israel’s south [along the Gaza border]. Not only was this an act of terrorism, but also a clear message – challenging our presence in this country.”

“On that same day, the defense establishment immediately began to prepare the operation to neutralize Islamic Jihad leaders in the Gaza Strip. These murderous leaders were responsible for firing rockets and for orchestrating numerous terror attacks against Israeli citizens,” he continued.

“One of the targets of our operation, Jahed Ahnam, had blood on his hands – the blood of the Hatuel family. He was one of the planners of the horrific attack that took place 19 years ago near the ‘Kissufim’ crossing – the murder of Tali, who was eight months pregnant, along with her four daughters. The additional terrorists [Islamic Jihad leaders], were also involved in numerous terror attacks, and focused primarily on spreading terrorism from the Gaza strip to Israel.

“Overnight, once the conditions enabled it, IDF and ISA forces launched the operation with great determination, power and precision. The objective of the operation was achieved: top leaders of the Islamic Jihad organization were eliminated. We came full circle with Ahnam. Last night, those who tried us, experienced once again, the great strength of the State of Israel and our defense establishment.

“Overnight we demonstrated – for anyone who needed reminding – that we are determined to thwart any threat, and that we will reach anyone who aims or plans to cause us harm. We have done this in the past, we do this today, and we will do so in the future – whenever it may be required.

The heavy price we exacted, was the unequivocal response of the State of Israel, to the terrorists who made a grave mistake in thinking that they could threaten the citizens of Israel and then sleep peacefully at night.

INN also reported that the US embassy in Jerusalem issued an updated statement on Tuesday evening, following its initial call for all sides to ‘de-escalate’ as Israel prepares for a round of conflict with terrorist organizations in Gaza.

The updated statement reads: “We are closely following Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip that killed three leaders of Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Israel has the right to protect itself and its people from indiscriminate rocket attacks launched by terrorist groups. We are also aware of reports that 10 civilians were tragically killed in the Israeli strikes. We call for all parties to de-escalate the situation.”

INN reported that the earlier statement did not include the sentence about Israel’s right to defend itself, though it did contain a sentence reiterating that America’s “commitment to Israel’s security remains ironclad.”

Former Israeli Ambassador to the UN MK Danny Danon said in response to the embassy’s statement: “Tonight I tell our friends in the US that Israel will continue to steadfastly protect its citizens. Just as the United States would not hesitate to act if even one rocket landed within its territory, neither will we.”