The Israeli military blamed the Islamic Jihad for escalating the situation in the Gaza Strip to serve Iran after a rocket was fired during a mass event, saying the movement was behind all the rockets launched from the Strip this week.
Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, Maj. Gen. Kamil Abu Rokon warned Gazans that Islamic Jihad is on an Iranian mission to undermine the security.
Rokon added that Israel will continue to respond to acts of aggression coming from Gaza to protect its citizens.
“The factions in Gaza favor the interests of Iran over their citizens,” he said, adding that the deterioration of the security situation will lead to destruction and harm the residents of Gaza, “who will continue to live in the dark because of those who terrorize the Strip.”
Earlier, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered to cut in half the amount of fuel transferred to Gaza starting Monday and until further notice in response to the rockets.
At least three rockets have been fired late Sunday near the Gaza border during a music festival in Sderot, prompting the Israeli army to retaliate by striking two Hamas positions in the Strip, including an office belonging to a high-profile commander in the group’s military wing.
Israeli army spokesperson said fighter planes attacked several targets in Hamas' military compound in northern Gaza, including the office of a Hamas commander battalion.
“The strike was carried out in retaliation for the rockets launched from Gaza on Sunday evening. The Israel Forces will continue acting against attempts to harm Israel's citizens and view the Hamas terror organization responsible for everything that takes place in the Strip,” the statement read.
Islamic Jihad is the second greater power in Gaza, after Hamas.
Informed Palestinian sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Hamas is fully convinced Jihad is behind the firing of the rockets and had discussed the issue with officials hoping it would not violate the ceasefire. Hamas fears the situation would escalate and agreements will be undermined.
But Jihad officials say there is no progress in these agreements, but deny they are firing rockets, the sources said.
The sources indicated that both movements held a meeting Monday or Tuesday as Hamas does not want the truce to collapse in Gaza.
The launch of the last batch of rockets came amid escalation in Syria, Lebanon and Iraq after Israel targeted fighters and Iranian positions belonging to Hezbollah.
The Islamic Jihad is very close to Iran and Hezbollah and has maintained a somehow stable relationship with Tehran, unlike Hamas.
Hamas has distanced itself from the escalation and is interested in maintaining reconciliation with Israel, in which Egypt, Qatar and the United Nations have played key roles.
The agreement calls for an end to any attacks from the Gaza Strip in return for easing the blockade and launching humanitarian projects. Hamas has deployed additional fighters on the border to prevent attacks or incursions in the recent period after rising tensions.
Israeli Minister of Energy Yuval Steinitz said Netanyahu is working “firmly but wisely and deliberately,” adding that “Israel's response to the incidents in the south was strict.”
He stressed that “Israel is prepared for a large-scale military operation in Gaza in case it finds no other solution.”
Israeli Housing Minister Yoav Gallant indicated that the war with Gaza is the last option, adding that Hamas is not interested in escalating the situation, but some are “playing with fire” on its behalf.
