Israel had no choice but launch Operation Breaking Dawn, an extensive counterterrorism campaign against the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip, senior political officials told Israel Hayom on Monday.
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The escalation against the PIJ began about two weeks earlier, one source said. The commanders were stepping up their operations against Israel. As for the recent arrest of PIJ West Bank commander Bassam al-Saadi, we knew it would raise tensions, but did not expect it to ignite such a serious escalation.
The primary goal defined by Prime Minister Yair Lapid was to deescalate. We started the political process to end the operation even before it began. The expectation was that Hamas would pressure the PIJ into ceasing its activities, but that didn't happen. We took some temporary measures, but eventually, what prompted the launch of the operation was the understanding that Hamas would not act and that there was a high probability of Israel succeeding in the event it took on the PIJ by itself, he said.
Lapid and Defense Minister Benny Gantz "spoke several times a day, and the contribution of prime minister-designate [Naftali Bennett] was also significant. We convened the Cabinet to make sure that our operating principles are approved by all ministers. The work between the organizations was very good – even when there are different opinions it has been proven that the work can be synchronized. The IDF, the Shin Bet [security agency] and the [Israel] police, the National Security Council, and the Mossad worked well together.
The official also explained that Israel was constantly in touch with Egyptian and Qatari mediators.
We were in touch with Egypt, the US, and Qatar at all times, but in the end, Cairo is the main player and has the greatest ability to influence, the source said," he said.
"The situation in the strip is very complex – about two million residents there are in a very complicated economic situation. We want to reach an agreement that will allow us to return the fallen soldiers and captives home. Hamas actively participated in ending the operation but did not prevent the escalation. Closing entry to Gazan workers exerted the pressure that we wanted, and we think that the economic interest has a positive role, so we intend to continue this policy."
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The official also confirmed that contrary to PIJ reports, Israel did not agree to demands to release Saadi and Khalil al-Awawda, a PIJ member who is hunger-striking in protest of his detention.
Earlier, Public Security Minister Omer Barlev confirmed the same, saying "Israel did not agree to anything, we responded negatively to the demands … Al-Saadi is like any prisoner, and the administrative detainee [al-Awawda], like any other administrative detainee. Toward the end of the detention period, the Shin Bet will assess the situation and decide whether to release him. Most of the time the Shin Bet extends" the detention.
Justice Minister Gideon Sa'ar pointed out that the Egyptians made the commitment to work on the release of the prisoners and said that Israel was not moved by threats from PIJ to start hostilities again if the prisoners are not released.
