Israel carried out airstrikes on Gaza Strip a day after Israeli forces killed nine Palestinians – including an elderly woman – in the Jenin refugee camp, marking one of the deadliest raids in the occupied West Bank by Israel's military in years. Al Jazeera channel reported quoting local sources in Gaza that Israeli warplanes had hit al-Maghazi refugee camp in the center of the territory, with at least 13 strikes in the early hours of Friday. The al-Zaitoun neighborhood in the south of Gaza City was also hit, as well as an open area east of Beit Hanoun, in northern Gaza. Witnesses and local media reported that Israeli drones fired two missiles at targets in Gaza before the fighter jets struck. There were no immediate reports of casualties, and "cautious calm" had returned to Gaza by the morning, said Al Jazeera correspondent Maram Humaid. The Israeli army said the air attacks on Gaza – one of the most densely populated areas in the world with 2.1 million residents – followed after two rockets were fired towards Israel at about midnight (22:00 GMT). Air raid sirens had sounded in southern Israel as the initial two rockets were fired and then again after the Israeli air attacks. The Israeli army said the rockets were intercepted by Israel's air defense system and the country's Channel 12 aired footage of Israeli interceptor missiles being launched into the night sky above the city of Ashkelon, about 12km (7 miles) north of Gaza. No group has claimed responsibility for the reported rocket fire. The Israeli air attacks and rocket fire followed Israeli forces killing nine people during a raid on the Jenin refugee camp. At least 20 people were also injured in what has been described as one of the deadliest days in the West Bank since Israel ramped up raids at the start of 2021. Tensions have recently risen in the West Bank, as the Israeli military continues what it describes as an anti-terrorism offensive that began last year following a series of deadly attacks in Israel. A 10th Palestinian – a 22-year-old man – was meanwhile shot and killed during a confrontation with Israeli troops in the town of al-Ram, near Jerusalem, as residents protested against the Jenin raid, Palestinian officials said. Heavy gunfire and explosions echoed across the crowded, urban Jenin refugee camp, as fierce battles between Palestinian militants and Israeli forces raged for three hours on Thursday morning. Hospital authorities identified the elderly woman who was killed in the Jenin raid as Magda Obaid. Obaid's daughter said her mother was shot in the neck as she peered out of her window to see what was happening. The official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that seven youths were shot and wounded while attempting to prevent the Israeli forces from entering Jenin, and that the troops "completely destroyed" the Jenin Camp Club. In Gaza, there were fears that the Israeli air attacks, following on from the Jenin raid, were an indication that a new conflict was going to break out, only five months after the last big Israeli assault on the blockaded territory killed at least 49 people. Yoav Gallant, Israel's defense minister, said on Friday that the Israeli military had been ordered to "prepare for action ... in case we need to continue – until quiet is restored for the citizens of Israel". However, with the situation calm on Friday morning, the Israeli army allowed normal routine for Israelis living near Gaza, with stores and schools opened. In the West Bank on Thursday, people filled the streets to show solidarity with Jenin as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared three days of mourning. Palestinian Authority spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh said Abbas had cut security coordination with Israel in "light of the repeated aggression against our people and the undermining of signed agreements". He said Palestinians planned to file complaints with the United Nations Security Council, the International Criminal Court (ICC) and other international bodies over Israel's violence. The United Arab Emirates, China and France have asked the UNSC to meet behind closed doors on Friday over the attacks, diplomats said. Tor Wennesland, the UN's special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, said on Twitter he was "deeply alarmed" and "saddened" by the violence and that he was engaged with Israeli and Palestinian authorities to "de-escalate tensions, restore calm and avoid further conflict". "Since the beginning of this year, we are continuing to witness high levels of violence and other negative trends that characterized 2022. It is crucial to reduce tensions immediately and prevent more loss of life," he added. At least 30 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank so far this year, including militants and civilians, as the military continues operations there. — Agencies
