13 Nov 2019 | 08:00 PM UTC
Israel/Palestinian Terr.: Gaza death toll rises amid continued airstrikes November 13 /update 6
At least 24 Palestinians killed in Gaza by Israeli airstrikes as of November 13; further cross-border strikes expected over the coming hours and days
Event
As of Wednesday evening (local time), November 13, at least 24 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza by Israeli airstrikes over a two-day period. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that over 360 rockets have been fired toward Israel from Gaza since Tuesday morning in retaliation for the assassination of Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) commander Bahaa Abu Al-Ata. No fatalities have been reported in Israel as most of the rockets have been intercepted by the Irone Dome missile defense system, though several homes have sustained damage. In response to the attacks, the IDF has carried out airstrikes on PIJ positions across Gaza, resulting in the deaths of at least 16 militants linked with the Iran-backed group. Schools across southern Israel and Gaza remained closed for a second consecutive day on Wednesday as cross-border strikes showed no signs of abating.
Retaliatory rocket and cross-border attacks by PIJ and other militant organizations are likely to continue over the coming hours and days. Further IDF operations along the border and in the Gaza Strip are also possible.
Context
The IDF said that PIJ Al-Quds Brigade commander Bahaa Abu Al-Ata was targeted during the early morning hours of Tuesday by a precision strike at his residence in the Shejaiyah area of Gaza. According to the IDF, Al-Ata was imminently planning to launch an attack against Israeli citizens and soldiers. Al-Ata has been accused of organizing hundreds of attacks in Israel and developing the rocket capabilities of the PIJ in the Gaza Strip.
Advice
Individuals in Israel and the Palestinian Territories are advised to monitor developments to the situation and adhere to instructions issued by local authorities and their home governments. Seek immediate shelter in the event of a rocket attack.
Some Western governments advise their citizens against all travel to the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and areas near the Israeli-Lebanese, Israeli-Syrian, and Israeli-Egyptian borders.
