Gaza Strip-based terrorists fired dozens of rockets at southern and central Israel on Tuesday morning, following an IDF operation that killed top Islamic Jihad commander Baha abu al-Ata. Islamic Jihad said another one of its officials, Akram Al-Ajouri, was targeted in Damascus, where the organization's leadership resides.
The Iran-backed terrorist group said it would mount an "unprecedented response" to Israel's move, saying the Jewish state has "opened the gates of hell."
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For now, all eyes are on Hamas to see if it will help play a peace broker or join in on the fighting.
As for the IDF, military sources report that it has called up reserves to bolster deployment along the Israel-Gaza border.
Video: Moshe Ben Simhon, Yehuda Perez
Rocket sirens sounded repeatedly starting at 6 a.m. across southern Israel. By 7 a.m. central Israel came under fire as well, with sirens wailing in Tel Aviv, Rishon Lezion, Gedera, and Ashdod.
As of noon, over 150 rockets have been fired from Gaza towards civilian areas in Israel, with the Iron Dome intercepting 60 rockets, the IDF said.
The IDF Homefront Command declared a state of emergency across these areas, ordering schools and businesses to shutter.
The military also closed some roads near the Gaza Strip and rail service to the area has been suspended. The military further banned public events of over 100 people across southern and central Israel.
Islamic Jihad in #Gaza are firing rockets indiscriminately at civilians across #Israel.
We will defend them. pic.twitter.com/FpO4HYGYdK
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) November 12, 2019
According to the Britain Israel Communications Institute, a delegation of Egyptian intelligence officials are set to arrive in Israel and Gaza to help mitigate the crisis.
In a statement, the Israeli military said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had authorized the operation against Al-Atta, blaming him for recent rocket, drone and sniper attacks against Israel, and attempted infiltrations into the country.
"Abu Al-Atta was responsible for most of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad's activity in the Gaza Strip and was a ticking bomb," the statement said, accusing Al-Atta of planning "imminent terror attacks through various means."
This is the first time Israeli civilians have been targeted since 2014's Operation Protective Edge. So far, an eight-year-old girl who collapsed while running for shelter is the only injury reported.
Video: Israel Police, National Roads Company of Israel
Houses in Sderot and Netivot were hit directly, but no property damage was reported. Additionally, a rocket hit a major highway near Gan Yavne – a suburb in southern Israel, causing no injuries.
The Palestinian Authority denounced what it called "the ongoing Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip," adding that Ramallah "holds the Israeli government solely responsible for the recent escalation."
As for Gaza residents, Homefront Command deployed search and rescue forces in several Gaza Envelope communities, after several residential buildings sustained direct hits by rockets fired from Gaza. The IDF stressed this was a precautionary measure, saying that at this point, Homefront Command officials would serve in an advisory capacity to the municipal officials overseeing the issue.
Also on Tuesday morning, the American Embassy in Israel issued an advisory warning to all those stationed in the country and Gaza. They instructed all US Citizens to seek shelter immediately in the event of a siren. It also cautioned Americans to be aware of their surroundings, avoid demonstrations, monitor the local media and adhere to instructions from local authorities.
