Following the arrest of Bassem Saadi, the head of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad's operations in the West Bank in a raid in Jenin late Monday night, Egyptian mediators on Tuesday worked to prevent a security escalation in Gaza and Judea and Samaria.
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A Palestinian official told Israel Hayom that the mediators were focusing their efforts on PIJ's leadership in Lebanon. It appears the terrorist organization will struggle to restrain itself in the wake of Saadi's arrest, which it views as a humiliation. Hamas still has not signaled its willingness to embark on a military confrontation with Israel, but also cannot completely prohibit PIJ from acting in "resistance" against Israel. From the perspective of Hamas' leaders, this makes their dilemma more acute as they are stuck between an unwanted clash with Israel and rising tensions with the second-strongest armed group in Gaza.
Israeli security officials on Tuesday said they had already detected indications that Hamas was dissatisfied with PIJ's intention to respond to Saadi's arrest.
In light of the concerns over potential rocket fire, Israel conveyed exceedingly harsh messages to the Egyptian mediators about a possible response from PIJ, and defense officials said they believed those messages were sufficiently internalized by Hamas.
Amid this backdrop, Defense Minister Benny Gantz visited the IDF's Judea and Samaria Division on Tuesday with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi.
"The policy is clear: Whoever wants to live and work in good neighborliness, will receive an outstretched hand. On the other hand, we will target anyone and any terrorist who seeks to harm the citizens of Israel," Gantz said.
"Any threat against the citizens of Israel will be met with a powerful response, and we are prepared for any scenario. We are also progressing with the construction of the seam zone barrier to protect the civilian home front, and we are expanding economic networks with the Palestinians in the shared interest of prosperity and stability," he added.
A source in Gaza told Israel Hayom that "both PIJ and Hamas could view the events in Jenin as an opportunity to consider a limited escalation, despite the cost."
However, the source said, "Hamas does not want a large escalation, even though no one knows how things will unfold. PIJ has a larger motive for trying to exact revenge."
As for Israel's decision to close the Erez border crossing to Palestinian workers, Gaza officials noted that some 80% of them already entered Israel on Sunday and remain there, preferring to find overnight lodging instead of returning to their homes in Gaza every day.
"It's true that Hamas could lose some of the economic relief, but the armed groups in Gaza have different calculations. It's important to them to maintain the image of resistance organizations, and aside from that, the manner in which Saadi was arrested and the images that were broadcast hurt the prestige of PIJ, which views it as a humiliation," the source said.
As part of the measures Israel has already implemented on the ground ahead of possible retaliation, the IDF cordoned off all major roads and areas adjacent to the Israel-Gaza border, including highways 4 and 232, and Route 34. The Erez Crossing, as stated, was also shuttered, as was Zikim Beach.
In line with the military's measures, Israel Railways announced it was halting train services between the southern towns of Ashkelon and Netivot, as well as Sderot.
According to available details on the raid, Israeli counterterrorism troops clashed with terrorists in Jenin. Saadi's son-in-law and top aide, Ashraf Zidan al-Jada, was also arrested.
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