Netanyahu's Office: "Islamic Jihad will pay a heavy price, the campaign will continue as long as necessary"

Operation " Shield and Arrow " – the third day : Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu held a security situation assessment over the phone this evening (Thursday) from the Kirya in Tel Aviv. This, following the developments in the last few hours, including the direct and fatal damage to a residential building in the heart of Rehovot. At the end of the assessment of the situation, Netanyahu's office stated that "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Galant instructed the security forces to continue exacting a heavy price from the Islamic Jihad for its aggression against the citizens of Israel. The campaign will continue as long as necessary."

Killed by a rocket hit in the streets; Two wounded in the Gaza Strip ongoing updates
A senior political official: "If the shooting at Israel continues, the attacks in the Gaza Strip will continue"

Defense Minister Galant participates in the remote assessment of the situation

Minister of Defense Yoav Galant, Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, Rabbi Hasgal Tzachi Braverman, Rabbi Rabbi Tzachi Hanegbi, Rabbi Ronan Bar of the Shin Bet, Chief of Staff Lt. Col. Harzi Halevi, Director General of the Ministry of Defense participate in the conversation. From Yossi Shelli, the military secretary of the Prime Minister, Colonel Avi Gil, R.A.M.T.L.O. Oded Basiouk, R.A.M.N.L.L.C. Aharon Haliva and the coordinator of government operations in the territories, Lt.Col. Rasan Elian.

Operation Shield and Arrow: one dead and ten injured following a direct hit by a rocket in Rehovot

As mentioned, "Operation Shield and Arrow" recorded a sad achievement this evening with the first Israeli death since the operation began three days ago. During heavy barrages into the Shefala area, a rocket directly hit a residential building in Rehovot, one person was killed and ten others were injured to varying degrees. Also, a 45-year-old man was moderately injured by shrapnel in the Eshkol region, and an 80-year-old woman was slightly injured in the Sdot Negev Regional Council.

In the meantime, it seems that the ceasefire is moving away: a senior political official updated this evening on the developments in the ceasefire negotiations and clarified that as long as the shooting at Israel continues, the attacks in the Strip will continue, including targeted assassinations. According to him, "In the last day, despite Egypt's efforts to bring about a ceasefire, The initiator of the Islamic Jihad fired a volley at Israel. In response, a fourth significant senior official (Ali Ali) in the Islamic Jihad was thwarted, and the organization continued to suffer severe damage.

He added: "If the shooting at Israel continues, the attacks in the Gaza Strip will continue, including the continuation of countermeasures and exacting another heavy price from the Islamic Jihad. Fire will be answered with fire. The equation has changed: Israel will come into account and exact a price for targeting terrorism from the Gaza Strip to Israel. Tarek's countering Azaldin is an example of this. The IDF is prepared to continue to protect the citizens of Israel with strength, and at the same time, attacks terrorist targets and is prepared for any scenario."