May 2023 Gaza–Israel clashes
Part of the Gaza–Israel conflict
Date9–13 May 2023
Location
Gaza Strip - Israel
Result Ceasefire as of 13 May at 10 p.m. (19:00 GMT).[1]
Involved parties
 Israel
Commanders and leaders
Casualties and losses
Total killed:
1 civilian
Total wounded: 7

Total killed: 33
Civilians: 14 (4 by friendly fire according to Israel)[3][4]
Total wounded: 147+ [5]
Detained: 35

Displaced: 800+
1 Palestinian worker in Israel killed

On 9 May 2023, Israel conducted a series of airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, called Operation Shield and Arrow (Hebrew: מבצע מגן וחץ) that lasted until 13 May. On 2 May 2023, Khader Adnan, a former Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) spokesman, died in an Israeli prison following an 87-day hunger strike protesting his continual administrative detention. The same day, in retaliation, PIJ militants fired around 102 rockets towards southern Israel, injuring seven individuals in Sderot.

Israel held off on responding to the rocket attacks until 9 May, when the Israeli military executed a targeted assassination of three leaders of the PIJ movement, also resulting in the death of 10 civilians. Subsequently, on the same day, an airstrike against a vehicle in Khan Yunis led to the death of two Palestinians. The airstrikes continued on 10 May, claiming six more Palestinian lives. In retaliation, militants launched a barrage of rockets into Israel, totaling over 938 as per the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), under the banner of Operation Revenge of the Free (Arabic: عملية ثأر الأحرار). The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) accounted for four of the fatalities on 10 May. On 11 May, Israeli airstrikes led to the killing of two more PIJ commanders, while the death toll from the prior raids rose to at least 26. The exchange of rockets and airstrikes persisted on 12 May amidst ongoing efforts to broker a ceasefire. On this day, another senior PIJ leader along with his aide were killed, bringing the total death toll to 34 Palestinians (inclusive of one in Israel) and one Israeli. On the following day, Israel and Islamic Jihad agreed to a ceasefire.

Background

On 2 May 2023, Khader Adnan, a former PIJ spokesman, died in an Israeli prison after an 87-day hunger strike against his repeated administrative detentions.[6] In response, later that same day, militants from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad organization launched approximately 102 rockets towards Sderot, communities in the Gaza periphery, and southern Israel. In one of these attacks, seven people in Sderot were injured.[7]

For a week, Israel refrained from responding to the rocket fire from the Gaza Strip until 9 May when the operation commenced, breaking a ceasefire that had previously been agreed to between Israel and Palestinian groups on 3 May following a smaller flare-up in violence after the death of Adnan.[6][8][1]

According to Al-Nakhalah after the ceasefire Israeli military pledged to stop assassinating commanders.[9][10]

Bombing

Forty military aircraft carried out a surprise bombing in violation of a ceasefire that had been implemented to quell the exchange of fire across the border.[6] The bombing commenced at 2 am local time on 9 May 2023 and lasted for approximately two hours.[6] Witnesses reported that the attack targeted a top-floor apartment in Gaza City and a house in Rafah.[6] The Palestinian health ministry confirmed the deaths of 13 individuals as a result of the bombing.[6] Among the casualties were three commanders, their wives, several children, and other bystanders.[6] Additionally, 20 people sustained injuries during the airstrikes.[6]

The Russian consulate in Ramallah issued a report stating that a Russian citizen, who worked as a dentist and resided locally, was among those killed.[6] The dentist's wife and son also lost their lives.[6] Later on, in Khan Yunis, two Palestinians were killed in an airstrike targeting a vehicle.[11] This incident occurred several hours after the initial bombing.[11]

The Israeli Home Front Command instructed residents within 40 km (25 mi) of Gaza to stay near bomb shelters as a reprisal was expected.[12]

Return rocket fire and ensuing violence

Palestinian militants responded to the bombing by launching hundreds of rockets into Israel, over 938 according to the IDF, in what Palestinian militants called Operation Revenge of the Free.[13][14][15][16] On 11 May, two more PIJ commanders were killed during airstrikes, while the death toll from the previous raids increased to at least 26.[17] Four members of the PFLP were identified among those killed in the 10 May airstrikes.[2] On 12 May, PIJ militants fired rockets toward Jerusalem for the first time during the conflict. As a result, ceasefire talks were paused.[16]

On 13 May, a Palestinian worker was killed and another injured by rocket shrapnel in Negev.[18] Late that day, a ceasefire between Israel and PIJ was arranged through the auspices of the government of Egypt, which negotiated with both parties. Reports about the details of the ceasefire conditions are so far contradictory.

Reactions

Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas, denounced the airstrikes and said, "Assassinating the leadership in a treacherous operation will not bring security to the occupier, but instead greater resistance." Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem issued a warning, claiming that Israel "bears responsibility for the repercussions of this escalation."[19]

The United Nations has called for moderation and a restart of talks aimed at achieving a durable peace as part of the international community's concern. Israeli authorities have suspended the entry and departure of people and commodities from Gaza through two crossing points until further notice.[19]

On 13 June, Amnesty International said the Israeli airstrikes and Palestinian rocket fire could amount to war crimes, saying that the airstrikes were carried out "without military necessity" and amounted to "a form of collective punishment against the civilian population" and the rocket fire "indiscriminate".[20][21][22]

Commander assassinations

The Israeli's stated objective of the operation was a targeted campaign against senior members of the Islamic Jihad in Gaza who posed a significant threat to security stability.[23] Throughout the operation, six senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad figures were killed in targeted strikes.

Ceasefire

Israel and Islamic Jihad agreed to a ceasefire on 13 May 2023.[24][1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Al-Mughrabi, Nidal; Lubell, Maayan; Al-Mughrabi, Nidal (13 May 2023). "Israel and Islamic Jihad agree Gaza truce". Reuters. Archived from the original on 24 May 2023. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  2. 1 2 "Israel-Palestine conflict: Fighting ongoing as ceasefire falters". Al Jazeera. 10 May 2023. Archived from the original on 11 May 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  3. ↑ "Operation Shield and Arrow: Who are the Palestinian civilian casualties?". The Jerusalem Post. Walla!. Archived from the original on 15 May 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  4. ↑ Fabian, Emanuel (11 May 2023). "Military believes failed Islamic Jihad rockets killed four civilians in Gaza". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 15 May 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  5. ↑ Al-Mughrabi, Nidal; Rabinovitch, Ari; Al-Mughrabi, Nidal (12 May 2023). "Palestinian rockets fired towards Jerusalem, Israel kills militant leader". Reuters. Archived from the original on 12 May 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 McKernan, Bethan (9 May 2023). "Israel bombs Gaza Strip, killing three Islamic Jihad leaders and leaving nine civilians dead". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 9 May 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  7. ↑ Jeremy Bob, Yonah (3 May 2023). "IDF struck 16 targets in Gaza overnight in response to 100 rockets". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 12 May 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  8. ↑ "Palestinian groups, Israeli forces agree to Gaza ceasefire". Al Jazeera. 3 May 2023. Archived from the original on 13 May 2023. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  9. ↑ "النخاله: رزمندگان مقاومت آماده درهم شکستن هرگونه تجاوزی هستند". IRNA (in Persian). Archived from the original on 14 May 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  10. ↑ "Gaza celebrates Egyptian-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Palestinians". Euronews. 14 May 2023. Archived from the original on 15 May 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  11. 1 2 "Two Palestinians killed in Israeli air attack on Gaza car: Medics". Al Jazeera. 9 May 2023. Archived from the original on 19 October 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  12. ↑ "Targeted assassination kills 3 Palestinian Islamic Jihad leaders in Gaza". i24NEWS. 9 May 2023. Archived from the original on 3 June 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  13. ↑ الغرفة المشتركة للفصائل الفلسطينية تعلن عن تنفيذ عملية "ثأر الأحرار" [The joint room of the Palestinian factions announces the implementation of Operation 'Revenge of the Free']. Kingdom Channel (in Arabic). 10 May 2023. Archived from the original on 10 May 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  14. ↑ Akram, Fares; Ben Zion, Ilan (10 May 2023). "Israeli-Palestinian fighting intensifies as Egyptian cease-fire efforts falter". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 10 May 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  15. ↑ "Israeli-Palestinian fighting continues, despite Egyptian cease-fire announcement". Associated Press. 10 May 2023. Archived from the original on 10 May 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  16. 1 2 Gotkine, Elliott; Dahman, Ibrahim; Salman, Abeer; Greene, Richard Allen; Stambaugh, Alex; Noor Haq, Sana (12 May 2023). "Islamic Jihad targets Jerusalem for the first time as it fires barrage of rockets at Israel". CNN. Archived from the original on 12 May 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  17. ↑ "Israel kills 30 Palestinians in Gaza as violence escalates". Al Jazeera. 11 May 2023. Archived from the original on 12 May 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  18. ↑ "Israel-Palestine live: Warring sides indicate no truce imminent". Al Jazeera. 13 May 2023. Archived from the original on 13 May 2023. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  19. 1 2 "Israel strikes Gaza killing 13 people, including four children". Al Jazeera. 8 May 2023. Archived from the original on 9 May 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  20. ↑ "Amnesty condemns possible 'war crimes' in Gaza conflict". France 24. 13 June 2023. Archived from the original on 16 June 2023. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  21. ↑ Gritten, David (13 June 2023). "Amnesty: Possible war crimes in recent Israel-Gaza fighting". BBC News. Archived from the original on 13 July 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  22. ↑ "Amnesty condemns possible 'war crimes' of both Israel, Palestinians in Gaza conflict". The Times of Israel. 13 June 2023. Archived from the original on 17 June 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  23. ↑ "בכיר הג'יהאד האסלאמי מת בכלא הישראלי; 3 רקטות נורו לעבר ישראל". Maariv (in Hebrew). 2 May 2023. Archived from the original on 12 May 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  24. ↑ Greene, Richard Allen; Dahman, Ibrahim; Salman, Abeer; Mendonca, Duarte; Alkhshali, Hamdi; Chen, Heather (13 May 2023). "Israel and Islamic Jihad agree ceasefire after days of violence". CNN. Archived from the original on 16 June 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
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