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Operation Shield & Arrow

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Israel Defense Forces killed three top Palestinian Islamic Jihad leaders in strikes across the Gaza Strip early on Tuesday morning, following a month of intermittent confrontations with terrorists in the Palestinian enclave.

The IDF identified the targets of the operation as Khalil Bahitini, PIJ’s commander in northern Gaza; Jahed Ahnam, a senior member of the terror group’s military council; and Tarek Azaldin, who directs its activities in Judea and Samaria.

In a campaign the military dubbed “Operation Shield and Arrow,” Israel also struck 10 sites belonging to PIJ, including weapons manufacturing facilities and depots.

The move represents an effort by Israel to reestablish deterrence after PIJ fired 104 rockets and terrorized southern Israeli residents on May 2 and 3 in response to the death of 45-year-old PIJ Israeli security prisoner Khader Adnan, who had been on a three-month hunger strike.

Maj. Nir Dinar, head of the IDF’s International Press Department, told JNS that “Operation Shield and Arrow” sends the message that Israel will not tolerate a situation in which PIJ feels it can launch mass attacks on its civilians at will.

Israel is also seeking to differentiate between Hamas and PIJ — just as did in its 2022 “Operation Breaking Dawn” and in the 2019 “Operation Black Belt.” During those operations, Hamas left PIJ, which had decided to escalate attacks on Israeli targets, to face the consequences on its own.

A key question going forward is whether Hamas will act in the same manner now.

Although Hamas was not targeted, it released a statement Tuesday threatening Israel.

“As we hold the Zionist occupation and its extremist, fascist government fully responsible for the consequences of this heinous crime, we reiterate that the Israeli crimes and escalating terrorism against the Palestinian people will not go unpunished.

“The Israeli offensive against the besieged Gaza Strip will not bring peace and security to the Israeli occupation state, but would encourage more resistance until liberation and return.”

Dinar noted that the Iranian-funded PIJ is a proxy of Tehran, and said that all of the PIJ operatives targeted in “Operation Shield and Arrow” had recently engaged in terrorist activity. They had also been planning attacks on Israelis in the near future, including in Judea and Samaria, he added.

He described PIJ’s presence in Judea and Samaria as “significant,” noting that it has attempted to launch many terror attacks, some of which have been successful.

“The IDF will choose when and how to retaliate,” he stated. “We won’t be subject to PIJ’s formulas.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opened a Security Cabinet meeting on Tuesday by declaring, “Our principle is clear: Whoever harms us — we will strike at them and with great force. Our long arm will reach every terrorist at a time and place of our choosing.”

In an address to the nation Tuesday night, Netanyahu said, “In this campaign, we all stand together as brothers.”

Israelis residing within 25 miles of Gaza were instructed to enter or stay near bomb shelters amid fears of rocket attacks.

Bomb shelters were also opened in the southern cities of Ashkelon and Beersheva, as well as the central cities of Rishon LeZion, Herzliya, Ra’anana, Kfar Saba, Yavneh and Bat Yam.

Hospitals were moving patients to protected areas. Israel Railways announced the partial suspension of service in the South.

“The strikes targeted senior figures responsible for rocket fire from Gaza in recent months and who were involved in organizing additional attacks on Israelis, including in Judea and Samaria,” said IDF spokesperson Brig. Gen. Daniel Hagari, adding: “Those who endanger Israeli lives, and those who work tirelessly to harm Israel’s security, will not remain unharmed.”

He noted that 40 IAF aircraft carried out coordinated strikes within seconds of each other across three locations in Gaza early on Tuesday. Additional Gaza hits were reported later in the day.

“At this stage, we achieved our objective, we hit what was needed. If necessary, we will ramp up the attacks. We are prepared for any scenario,” said Hagari.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant weighed in shortly thereafter, saying: “Any terrorist element that harms Israeli citizens will regret it. We will pursue and catch our enemies.”

“The State of Israel seeks stability in the region, while the Iranian-funded [PIJ] terror group launches attacks. At the same time, it harms its own people — the Palestinian residents of Gaza,” he said.

“The State of Israel will not tolerate rocket fire, terrorism or any threats to the sovereignty of our state and security of our citizens. We must be prepared for every scenario — the IDF and security forces are prepared to defend every front,” Gallant said.

In a phone conversation with the mayors of southern Israeli communities, Gallant warned of a possible prolonged conflagration.

“The defense establishment will provide whatever assistance is required. I instructed professionals to be in continuous contact with you and take care of everything required for the needs of the residents. You have our full support,” he told the officials.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who last week sparred with Netanyahu over the government’s response to terror emanating from Gaza, cheered the government’s  “proactive operation,” calling it “a good start.”

In a show of unity, opposition leader Yair Lapid also extended his backing for the operation.

“The terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip were made aware this morning that the intelligence community and security forces are monitoring their every move, and that the account with them will be closed,” said Lapid.

“A firm Israeli response at a time and place that is good for us is the way to deal with terror from Gaza. We will back all operational activity to protect the residents of the south,” he added.

Added former defense minister and National Unity Party leader Benny Gantz: “Our enemies erred in assessing the situation. I commend the important action in the Gaza Strip. We will give full backing to the IDF and the security forces in every operation, and I hope that the government will conduct itself with the necessary combination of determination and responsibility.”

The deadly 3

The three terrorists killed early Tuesday have been identified by the IDF as Jahed Ahnam, Khalil Bahitini and Tarek Azaldin.

Jahed Ahnam, 62, served as secretary of the PIJ Military Council, and had also served as commander of PIJ’ Southern Gaza Brigade. He was one of the most senior, and longest-surviving, members of the terror group, according to the IDF.

CNN reported that Ahnam, a resident of Rafah, had been wanted for more than 20 years, survived five assassination attempts, and been wounded in IDF attacks in the past.

In his last position, he coordinated weapons and money transfers between Hamas and PIJ, and promoted terrorism in Gaza, Judea and Samaria and abroad.

Khalil Bahitini, 44, was PIJ’s senior operational officer and the commander of the Northern Gaza Division. He was responsible for the rocket fire toward Israel over the past month, according to the IDF.

Bahitini started his terrorist career in PIJ in the late 1990s. Throughout the years, he was involved in many terrorist acts against Israel, including suicide bombings, rocket fire and directing activities in Judea and Samaria.

After IDF operation “Breaking Dawn” eliminated Tayseer Jabri in August 2022, Bahitini took over his position.

Bahitini, who lived in Gaza City, was a member of the PIJ’s military council and had direct contact with senior members of its politburo.

Tarek Azaldin, 49, another senior PIJ operative, had recently planned and directed multiple attacks against Israeli civilians, the IDF said.

Azaldin had moved up the ranks of the organization in recent years, and was entrusted with coordinating PIJ’s terrorist activities in Judea and Samaria as well as transferring funds from Gaza to Judea and Samaria, according to the IDF.

He was also in charge of distributing the group’s propaganda in Israel to promote and encourage terrorist attacks on Israeli civilians.

Azaldin, originally from A’arbe in Samaria,  had been incarcerated in Israel on a 25-year sentence due to his involvement in suicide and IED (improvised explosive device) attacks in the early 2000s.

Israel’s Channel 11 reported that he was released in 2011 as part of the Shalit prisoner-exchange deal.