Islamic Jihad and Israel reportedly reach ceasefire after intense Gaza flare-up

Israel and Islamic Jihad reached a ceasefire on Wednesday night, Egyptian media reported. There was no immediate confirmation by Israel.

The reported ceasefire, mediated by Egypt, came after 270 rockets were fired from Gaza at southern and central Israel, including Tel Aviv following another day of extensive IDF attacks against Islamic Jihad.

The barrage began at 1:30 PM local time and continued in the afternoon, sending over a million of Israelis to bomb shelters. While Hamas said it had been “involved” in the rocket attacks, a senior Israeli security official disputed that, saying Islamic Jihad had been behind it, not Hamas.

Meanwhile, Israeli fighter jets struck over 53 Islamic Jihad targets, including rocket and mortar shell launchers and military positions throughout the Gaza Strip.

Israeli airstrikes targeted an Islamic Jihad squad in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, killing two people. The squad was taking Anti-tank guided missiles by car to a launch pad, according to the army.

The flare-up came after Israel launched “Operation Shield and Arrow” overnight Tuesday, killing 15 Palestinians, including three senior Islamic Jihad operatives. The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza said the other 10 victims were civilians, including women and children.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: “We are ready for the possibility of an expanded campaign and harsh strikes against Gaza.”

Shortly after the military operation was launched overnight Tuesday, Israeli authorities evacuated thousands of Gaza border residents in the early morning hours in anticipation of rocket and antitank missile attacks.

Roads adjacent to the border were also closed, while some Israeli 300,000 pupils stayed home from school. Beaches in the nearby cities of Ashkelon and Ashdod were also closed.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned both Hamas and Islamic Jihad not to “mess with” Israel on Tuesday night, saying: “Israel’s policy is clear and our message to the terrorists is also clear: You can run. You can hide. But in the end, Israel will get you.”

The decision to resume targeted killings came after Islamic Jihad fired over 100 rockets from Gaza at Israel last week in response to a member of the group dying from his hunger-strike in an Israeli prison.

“A week ago, after the rocket attacks against us, and after discussions with the defence minister and the IDF chief of staff, I authorised the targeting of these Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists,” Netanyahu said.

Meanwhile, the UN Security Council met on Wednesday afternoon for an emergency meeting to discuss the escalation.