The strike comes after days of tensions following the arrest of a senior militant in the occupied West Bank on Monday.<\/p>\n
Israel<\/strong> had roads closed all around Gaza<\/strong> earlier this week and sent reinforcements to the border in anticipation of retaliation.<\/p>\n “The IDF (Israeli Defense League) is currently attacking the Gaza Strip. A special situation has been declared on the Israeli home front,” the Israeli military said in a statement.<\/p>\n The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) officer killed was Tayseer al-Jaabari.<\/p>\n Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said that “the Israeli enemy, who started the escalation against Gaza and committed a new crime, must pay the price and take full responsibility.”<\/p>\n In a statement broadcast on Al Mayadeen TV, a pro-Iranian Lebanese channel, Islamic Jihad leader Ziad Al Nakhala vowed retaliation for the strikes.<\/p>\n “There are no red lines in this battle and Tel Aviv will fall under the rockets of the resistance, as well as all Israeli cities,” he said.<\/p>\n Read more on Sky News: Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz visited communities near Gaza earlier Friday, saying authorities were preparing “actions that will eliminate the threat from this region,” without elaborating.<\/p>\n “We will act with internal resilience and external strength to restore routine life in southern Israel,” he said.<\/p>\n “We do not seek conflict, but we will not hesitate to defend our citizens, if necessary.”<\/p>\n The PIJ is smaller than Hamas, but shares a similar ideology, with both groups opposed to Israel’s presence.<\/p>\n![\"Palestinians](\"https:\/\/e3.365dm.com\/22\/08\/768x432\/skynews-israel-gaza-palestine_5855606.jpg?20220805162132\")
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\n Palestinians react at a hospital after Israeli attacks in Gaza City<\/span><\/p>\n
“All civilian casualties are tragic”
Crisis management rather than peace talks<\/strong><\/p>\n