An Israel Defense Forces spokesman told Fox News that its operation against the Palestinian Islamic Jihadist terrorist group (PIJ) on Tuesday was a success.
Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari issued a warning to the PIJ during the interview after describing his operation as a success.
“We targeted Islamic Jihad terrorist members, specifically those who were destabilizing the area. We killed them in the [first] minutes of operation. They are all dead,” Hagari said. “The objectives of this operation were achieved within the first few seconds of the operation.”
“Our target is Islamic Jihad and they have paid a high price for their actions and will continue to pay the price for their actions. Islamic Jihad is a terrorist organization founded 100% by Iran. Iran is a negative player in the region, but we have targeted Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip in this operation because of the stability of the area,” he added.
GAZA MILIANTS FIRE ROCKETS IN ISRAEL AFTER ATTACKS KILL TERRORIST LEADERS
Rockets are launched from the Gaza Strip towards Israel, in Gaza, Wednesday, May 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
Hagari’s comments came after Israeli forces killed 15 people in Gaza on Tuesday in a series of airstrikes. Jahed Ahnam, secretary of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad military council; Khalil Bahitini, the commander of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist organization Northern Gaza Division; and Tareq Izzeldeen, the Islamic Jihad intermediary between Gaza and West Bank members, were killed in the attack.
The air strikes also resulted in the deaths of civilians, including three women and four children, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
The IDF acknowledged the civilian casualties, stating that while its attacks were directed exclusively at “PIJ targets”, these targets “act on very crowded civilian populations”.
Israel’s Iron Dome anti-missile system fires to intercept a rocket launched from the Gaza Strip towards Israel, near Sderot, Israel, Wednesday, May 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Hagari told Fox News that “we have no other way to fight terror, especially the Islamic jihad who are hiding and hiding with women and children and acting in popular areas of the population”.
GAZA MILIANTS FIRE ROCKETS IN ISRAEL AFTER ATTACKS KILL TERRORIST LEADERS
Rockets are launched from the Gaza Strip towards Israel, in Gaza City, Wednesday, May 10, 2023. Israeli aircraft hit targets in the Gaza Strip for the second consecutive day on Wednesday, killing at least one Palestinian and bringing the region closer to a new round of heavy fighting. (AP Photo/Adel Hana)
“Gaza is one of the most populated urban areas in the world and that makes everything more difficult. But we continue to do this in the most accurate and moral way possible. But we have to protect our own civilians,” he said.
Following the operation, Gaza militants fired rockets at Israel on Wednesday.
According to the IDF, 333 rockets crossed into Israel and 153 were intercepted.
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Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, left, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are seen on Tuesday at a meeting convened in response to a rocket attack on Israel from Gaza. (Office of the Prime Minister of Israel)
When asked about potential ceasefire talks, Hagari said Israel will respond to any attack from Gaza, saying, “until there is a formal ceasefire declaration. It’s not formal.”
Anders Hagstrom of Fox News contributed to this report.
