Netanyahu pledges 'multi-front' conflict after Israeli strikes kills 15 in Gaza

Why do Hamas and Islamic Jihad maintain complete silence regarding Israel's crimes?

A state of real confusion experienced by the residents of the Gaza Strip in light of the absolute silence adopted by the armed factions, especially the Hamas and Islamic Jihad movements, according to The New Arab's correspondent in Gaza.

Some fear involvement in a military operation with Israel, while others believe that Hamas has become more capable of adopting new strategies to respond to any Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip.

Egyptian sources told Al-Jazeera that Islamic Jihad leaders turned off their phones and Egyptian mediators could not reach them, which necessitated informing Israel that Egypt is not currently ready to engage in any mediation to calm the situation in Gaza.

Palestinian political analysts in the Gaza Strip told TNA that "the resistance factions in Gaza, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, have decided to adopt a new policy in dealing with Israeli crimes by remaining silent."

Husam al-Dajani, a writer and political analyst in Gaza, tells TNA, "This silence puts Israel and the world in front of several scenarios that Gaza may adopt to respond to Israel, including that the response be strong and unified, which means that the Strip gets involved in a bloody war with Israel, and that depends mainly on the position Israeli at that time.

Why now?

Tuesday's bloody air attacks may well be for the sake of appeasing Netanyahu's political partners - at the expense of Palestinian lives.

Read our snap analysis of today's events here: 

Fresh attacks on Khan Younis

The Israeli army has killed two Palestinians during attacking their vehicle in the city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza Strip.

One of the men killed by the strike was Khalid al-Farrah - another Islamic Jihad commander, according to reporting by The New Arab's correspondent in Gaza Sally Ibrahim. 

The Hamas-run civil affairs said in a press statement that ambulance crews transferred bodies of two men to a local hospital in the city.

Meanwhile, the Gaza health ministry said that the number of deaths has raised to 15 Palestinians, including three children and seven women. 

Netanyahu blames Iran

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has been out on the front foot, trying to to link this morning's brutal assault to Iranian attempts to weaken Israel. 

“We are doing everything to prevent Iran from establishing terror fronts around us. We are acting with military means to prevent Iran from setting up a second Lebanon in Syria. So far this effort has been a success,” Netanyahu told Israel's Defense and Security Forum group this afternoon. 

Netanyahu says he believes Iran are trying “to open a multi-front campaign” against Israel.

“We are preparing for this. I ordered the IDF and security branches to be ready for a multi-front campaign, if needed,” said the PM. 

Who were the leaders killed?

Islamic Jihad leaders Jihad Ghannam, Khalil al-Bahtini and Tariq Ezzadine were all assassinated by the Israeli strike in the early hours of this morning. 

The Israeli army has only acknowledged the death of civilians by saying that they were "aware of some collateral".

“If there were some tragic deaths, we’ll look into it and get back to you,” said an army spokesperson today.

To find out more about who the intended targets were, read the full report from The New Arab here: 

Survivors speak

10-year old Miral Abu Khiswan, orphaned by today's rocket attacks, has spoken to the New Arab just hours after her parents were killed. 

"I was sleeping when I heard heavy explosions around me. I did not realize what happened, but I saw some stranger men took me out and put me inside the ambulance with my father," Miral recalled to TNA. 

Read the full story here: 

UN envoy condemns 'unacceptable' killings

UN special envoy for the Middle East peace process Tor Wennesland has spoken today to "condemn the deaths of civilians" in today's brutal assault. 

"I am deeply alarmed by developments in Gaza after Israel launched a military operation this morning," said Wennesland in a statement. 

Israeli airstrikes in #Gaza this morning resulted in killing 13 Palestinians - 3 PIJ members, 5 women & 4 children. I condemn the deaths of civilians.
Urge all concerned to exercise restraint. I remain fully engaged in an attempt to avoid a broader conflict.
My full Statement👇 pic.twitter.com/AXc0c50mDU

— Tor Wennesland (@TWennesland) May 9, 2023

Israeli army release attack video

Israel has released black-and-white footage that purportedly shows the carnage of this morning's attacks.

The caption, in Hebrew, says the video "documents the thwarting of Jihad Hanem, secretary of the Islamic Jihad military council".

The smoking tower block, seen from above, also contained several civilians who lost their lives. 

"מגן וחץ"

תיעוד סיכולי בכירי הג'יהאד האסלאמי הפלסטיני ברצועת עזה>>

תיעוד סיכול מזכיר המועצה הצבאית בג'יהאד האסלאמי הפלסטיני, ג'האד ע'נאם: pic.twitter.com/QZwwjFIsMF

— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) May 9, 2023

Neighbours condemn Israeli violence

Egypt, Jordan and Turkey have all hit out at Israel for this morning's rocket barrage. 

Egyptian mediators are said to "extremely angry" with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following the airstrikes, sources close to Cairo have said.

The Turkish foreign ministry, meanwhile, has called the attacks "vile" for "killing innocent women and children", and demanded an immediate halt to Israeli attacks. 

Jordan, meanwhile, called on the international community to intervene to curtail Israeli violence - and "in order to protect Palestinians across all occupied territories." 

Gaza forces promise revenge

Palestinian resistance fighters have sworn to avenge the dawn raid which killed three top Islamic Jihad commanders as well as several civilians. 

“The Al-Quds Brigades and the resistance affirms we will abide by our commitment and duty toward the martyrs, and will confront the aggression with steadfastness and courage,” said a spokesman for the al-Quds brigade. 

As Israel closes all checkpoints between Gaza and Israel and opens municipal bomb shelters across the reason, it appears that they believe retaliation for today's attack is imminent. 

Funeral processions begin

Victims of this morning's attack are already being readied for their funeral processions, and crowds are gathering along the routes in remembrance and protest. 

#شاهد| تغطية صحفية: "استعدادات في مدينة غزة لتشييع جثامين الشهداء القادة الذين ارتقوا جراء العدوان الإسرائيلي على قطاع غزة، فجر اليوم". pic.twitter.com/V0Gv8UMluj

— وكالة شهاب للأنباء (@ShehabAgency) May 9, 2023

Ben-Gvir and Netanyahu reunited

A recent rift between returning PM Benjamin Netanyahu and firebrand extremist Itamar Ben-Gvir has been healed - if temporarily - by this morning's bloodbath in Gaza. 

A war of words between the two began after national security chief Ben-Gvir accused Netanyahu of 'weakness' and leniency towards Gaza, culminating in a boycott by the Jewish Power party of votes in the Knesset. 

Since the strikes, the party has agreed to re-enter their power sharing agreement with Likud. 

“Following the adoption of our position and a transition from containment to attack and targeted assassinations of Islamic Jihad leaders, we will return to vote with the government,” says the party.

Israeli FM returns home from India

Foreign minister Eli Cohen has returned home in the middle of a key diplomatic tour after today's attack on Gaza. 

"In light of the events in Israel, I decided to cut short the diplomatic visit to India and return to Israel after my meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that will take place today," Cohen wrote on Twitter.

נחתתי לפני זמן קצר בניו דלהי בירת הודו, ומיד עם נחיתתי קיבלתי עדכון ביטחוני.
לאור האירועים בארץ, החלטתי לקצר את הביקור המדיני בהודו ולחזור לישראל לאחר פגישתי עם ראש ממשלת הודו נרנדרה מודי שתתקיים היום.

— אלי כהן | Eli Cohen (@elicoh1) May 9, 2023

Fresh attacks on Khan Younis

The Israeli army has killed two Palestinians during attacking their vehicle in the city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza Strip.

One of the men killed by the strike was Khalid al-Farrah - another Islamic Jihad commander, according to reporting by The New Arab's correspondent in Gaza Sally Ibrahim. 

The Hamas-run civil affairs said in a press statement that ambulance crews transferred bodies of two men to a local hospital in the city.

Meanwhile, the Gaza health ministry said that the number of deaths has raised to 15 Palestinians, including three children and seven women.