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| Palestine Alquds Brigade |
The Palestinian resistance movement, Islamic Jihad, issued a statement condemning the targeted killing of three of its leaders in the besieged Gaza Strip by Israeli forces. The movement held the Israeli enemy fully responsible for what it deemed a massacre that exceeded all limits and violated the ceasefire agreement.
In its statement, Islamic Jihad emphasized that it would not delay its response to this heinous act and stated that the Al-Quds Brigades, along with other resistance factions, would not remain passive in the face of the martyrs' bloodshed.
"The enemy will not achieve its goals through this crime, as the resistance stands united and resolute in its stance," affirmed the Islamic Jihad.
The statement further emphasized that the movement would be even more determined to continue its path and fulfill its sacred duties in confronting the enemy.
Islamic Jihad concluded by acknowledging the presence of courageous leaders and soldiers within the Al-Quds Brigades who shoulder the responsibility and remain steadfast in their commitment to fight and exhaust the enemy on all fronts.
On Tuesday at dawn, the Israeli occupation military carried out targeted airstrikes, resulting in the assassination of three senior Islamic Jihad commanders, their wives, some of their children, and other civilians. These airstrikes occurred after a recent escalation of violence that had already put the besieged coastal enclave of Gaza on edge.
The Israeli warplanes launched a series of strikes on Gaza City, Rafah, Khan Yunis, and other locations. The assault resulted in the death of 13 Palestinians and left over 20 others injured.
According to the Israeli military, the commanders targeted in the airstrikes included Khalil Bahtini, the commander of the Al-Quds Brigades in northern Gaza Strip; Tareq Ezzedine, a spokesperson for the movement responsible for managing retaliatory operations in the West Bank and Gaza; and Jihad Ghanem, the secretary of the movement's military council.
In response to the airstrikes, Israel's war minister, Yoav Gallant, declared a "special situation at the top" and authorized the call-up of reservists as required. Highways near the Gaza Strip border were closed, railway traffic south of Ashkelon was halted, and the Home Front Command issued special instructions to the public.
According to the Israeli military, Bahtini held the highest operational rank within Islamic Jihad and was responsible for recent rocket attacks on Israeli territories. It was believed that he had plans for further rocket fire in the near future.
Ezzedine's role involved communication between the movement and its branches in the West Bank, as well as the transfer of funds and coordination of resistance activities in the occupied lands.
Ghanem, one of the most senior and experienced operatives in Islamic Jihad, had previously served as the commander of the Al-Quds Brigades in the southern Gaza Strip.