Escalating Violence in Gaza: Israeli Airstrikes and Palestinian Rocket Attacks

An Israeli airstrike in Gaza killed Ali Ghali, the commander of Islamic Jihad’s rocket forces, along with two other operatives. The strike was part of Operation Shield and Arrow, which began with the assassination of three other top Islamic Jihad commanders. The group responded by firing hundreds of rockets at Israeli communities, causing extensive material damage across southern Israel. The assassination of Ghali is likely to further distance the two sides from a truce, as the group had delayed the deal until Israel promised to stop targeted killings of its leadership.