Operation Shield and Arrow in the Gaza Strip Initial Reactions as of May 9, 4 p.m.

Overview

• In the early morning hours of May 9, 2023, three of the highest-ranking operatives of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ)^[1] died in targeted killings in the Gaza Strip. Ten other people, among them members of the operatives’ families, also died in the attacks (see the Appendix). IDF planes also attacked PIJ military-terrorist targets. The operation began after more than 100 rockets were fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip^[2] and after growing PIJ involvement in terrorist activity in Judea and Samaria.
• The Palestinian terrorist organizations reacted angrily to the attack. Although Israel expressly stated the operation was not directed against Hamas, most of the organizations claimed the response would be united and they would all participate. There were also angry reactions in the Arab-Muslim world.
• For a relatively long time, the leaders of the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip, and especially Hamas and the PIJ, have been concerned about IDF targeted killings. The Lebanese daily al-Akhbar recently reported that according to “resistance sources” the military wings of the organizations in the Gaza Strip had raised the level of alert, concerned their leaders would be killed, after having agreed that they would coordinate the response to such an activity. In the past, the “resistance” [terrorist organizations] had sent messages to the Egyptian mediator stating that the response to the renewal of targeted killings would not be limited to the Gaza Strip but would including all the territory of Israel and “abroad,” and would be unexpected. The “sources” also claimed the response would be coordinated by the organizations with the “resistance axis” [Hezbollah, Syria and Iran] (al-Akhbar, Lebanese, April 26, 2023).

Israel’s actions

• On May 9, 2023, at 2:15 a.m. Israel declared the beginning of Operation Shield and Arrow and IDF forces attacked three leading PIJ terrorist operatives in the Gaza Strip. More than 40 aircraft were involved, including attack helicopters and UAVs (Israeli media and the IDF spokesman, May 7, 2023).
• During the early morning hours Israeli Air Force aircraft also attacked dozens of PIJ facilities for the manufacture of weapons and military sites, including workshops for the manufacture of rockets in Khan Yunis, and a site for the production of concrete slabs used in the construction of attack tunnels from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory. Six sites which served as storehouses for weapons and logistic equipment were also attacked. A PIJ military post in the southern Gaza Strip was attacked as well (Israeli media and the IDF spokesman, May 7, 2023).

     
Attack on the house of Tareq Izz al-Din in Gaza City (Twitter account of photojournalist Hassan Aslih, May 9, 2023).

   
Attack on the house of Jihad Ghannam in Rafah (Twitter account of photojournalist Hassan Aslih, May 9, 2023).

• Approximately two hours after the operation, the Jerusalem Brigades, the PIJ’s military-terrorist wing, announced the deaths of three leading operatives: Jihad Ghannam, the secretary of the Jerusalem Brigades’ military council; Khalil and Bahtini, commander of the Jerusalem Brigades’ northern sector; and Tareq Izz al-Din, one of the heads of the organization operatives directing terrorist activity against Israel in Judea and Samaria (Jerusalem Brigades’ Telegram channel, May 9, 2023).
• Iyad al-Buzum, spokesman for the Hamas-controlled ministry of the interior in the Gaza Strip, reported that the security forces in the Gaza Strip were on alert, had deployed on the ground and were prepared for any eventuality. Hamas’ media information bureau announced the cancellation of classes in every educational institution in the Gaza Strip. Governmental and financial institutions also remained closed (Twitter account of photojournalist Hassan Aslih, May 9, 2023).
• A funeral was held for the fatalities on the morning of May 9, 2023, leaving from the al-Am’ari Mosque in Gaza City, the cortège winding its way through the streets where they had lived. The funeral service was held in the presence of a large crowd and conducted by PIJ Sheikh Aballah al-Shami.

   
Right: The cortège leaves al-Am’ari Mosque (alresala.net Twitter account, May 9, 2023). Left: The funeral of Jihad Gannam and his family in Rafah (Shehab Twitter account, May 9, 2023).

• After the operation the Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) announced the closing of the Erez and Kerem Shalom Crossings until further notice (COGAT website, May 9, 2023). Israel began deploying for the PIJ’s reaction. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant spoke with the heads of the local authorities of the communities near the Gaza Strip and said Israel had to be prepared for every scenario, including a prolonged campaign (Israeli media, May 9, 2023).

    
Palestinian media pictures of the upgrading of the alert in Israel and the deployment of Iron Dome aerial defense systems (Shehab Twitter account, May 9, 2023).

• Contradictory reports were received about Egyptian mediation attempts to keep the situation from escalating further. “Sources” reported that Egypt had warned Israel not to carry out targeted killings, and had opened direct lines of communication with Israel and the terrorist organizations in an attempt to preserve calm. The organizations had already informed Egypt they would react to Israeli “aggression” (al-Arabiya, May 9, 2023). Another report, claiming to quote “a well-placed source knowledgeable about the Egyptian mediator” said that the Egyptian mediator tended more towards ending contacts with Israel, at least for the immediate future, until the situation could be clarified. An “Egyptian source” reported the Egyptian mediating team felt the issue of mediation should be postponed because during the first stages of the expected escalation it would be useless and the PIJ would insist upon reacting violently, causing a situation which would embarrass Egypt (al-Araby al-Jadeed, May 9 2023).

Reactions

Palestinian reactions

The PIJ

• The PIJ issued a mourning notice claiming that in the war waged by the “Zionist occupation” against Palestinians wherever they may be found, it had “slaughtered” the residents of houses in the heart of densely-crowded neighborhoods in Gaza City and Rafah. The PIJ said Israel was wholly responsible for the action which “crossed every line” and was a gross violation of the ceasefire. It said the Palestinian response would not be long in coming, and the Jerusalem Brigades and the “resistance” would show no mercy. In addition, the PIJ would be more determined to continue its path and meet its obligation to “resist” Israel, and behind the Jerusalem Brigades commanders stood strong commanders and soldiers who were fully prepared and determined to fight and exhaust Israel and confront it in every arena (PIJ media information office Telegram channel, May 9, 2023).
• The PIJ’s Telegram channel posted a link to PIJ announcements under a picture of a multiple-barrel rocket launcher with “Jerusalem Brigades – 9:00 PM – Rocket Unit: the radius of our rockets knows no limit” painted on the side [9 p.m. was when the PIJ under the command of Bahaa Abu al-Atta customarily launched rockets] (Jerusalem Brigades’ Telegram channel, May 9, 2023).

• PIJ spokesman Abu Hamza said in a recorded announcement that “the Israeli occupation” was making a mistake and was delusional if it thought the blood of Palestinian shaheeds could be used as a bridge or safety line. He claimed the “crime” would only make them more determined to follow in the footsteps of the shaheeds, a path which would lead to the certain defeat of Israel and its leaders. He called on the Palestinians to stand firm and strong, and unite around the “resistance” as their chosen strategy for deterring Israel and repelling its aggression. He claimed the IDF’s slaughter would only increase their adherence to the “resistance.” The Jerusalem Brigades and the “resistance,” he said, stressed that they would meet their commitments to the shaheeds and bravely resist [Israeli] aggression. He said a thousand commanders would be replaced and the flag would be waved by new “knights” who would continue their path (Jerusalem Brigades’ Telegram channel and

• PIJ spokesman Tareq Salami said the “Palestinian resistance” and the Jerusalem Brigades would respond to the killings. He claimed Israel would pay the price and be fully responsible for its acts (Ma’an, May 9, 2023). Leading PIJ figure Da’ud Shehab said there would be a united Palestinian response which would make Israel understand that its attempts to divide the unity of the “resistance” would fail (Filastin al-A’an Twitter account, May 9, 2023).

Hamas

• Hamas issued an announcement saying it mourned the deaths of the three PIJ leaders “who were brothers in blood and arms.” It continued that Israel would pay a price for their deaths, and that killing them would not break their will to continue the “resistance” (Hamas website, May 9, 2023).
• Isma’il Haniyeh, head of Hamas’ political bureau, claimed killing them would not bring Israel security but would only increase the “resistance.” He claimed Israel had made a mistake and would pay the price for it after the “resistance found the way to cause it pain” (Hamas website, May 9, 2023).
• Khaled Mashaal, the Hamas leader abroad [Doha], threatened Israel claiming the “crime of killing leaders would lead to a strong response for the united fighting forces of the resistance.” He called on the “resistance” to be on the alert and ready to
• respond to Israel’s aggression (Ma’an, May 9, 2023).

The joint operations room

• The joint operations room of the Palestinian organizations issued a mourning notice which blamed the “evil enemy” for the consequences of “its cowardly crime.” According to the notice, Israel and its leaders, who had initiated the “aggression,” should plan to pay the price (joint operations room of the Palestinian “resistance,” May 9, 2023).

The PA

• PA Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh condemned “Israel’s aggression” against the Gaza Strip, calling it “organized state terrorism” and the continuation of the Palestinian nakba which began 75 years ago. He called on the UN to condemn Israel’s activity in the Gaza Strip and against the Palestinians in general. He sent his condolences to the families of the Palestinians killed and instructed the government ministries, especially the ministry of health, to send the Gaza Strip medical equipment and whatever else was required (Muhammad Shtayyeh’s Facebook page, May 9, 2023). Mai al-Kayla, PA minister of health, decided to send additional medical equipment to the ministry of health in Gaza to prevent a possible lack of materials (ministry of health in Ramallah Facebook page, May 9, 2023).
• Several students at the “Palestine Polytechnic University” in Hebron held a small demonstration to show solidarity with the residents of the Gaza Strip. They word green [Hamas] scarves, chanted anti-Israel slogans and demanded revenge (QudsN Twitter account, May 9, 2023).

Hezbollah

• Hezbollah claimed the killing of “resistance” leaders would increase the Palestinians’ alertness, unity and determination to continue the path of jihad and “resistance” until the final, complete victory. Hezbollah also expressed its full solidarity with the PIJ and support for all responses and measures taken by the organization and other “resistance” forces to deter Israel and defend the Palestinian people (Telegram channel of Hezbollah’s combat information unit, May 9, 2023).

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP)

• The PFLP said in a press release that the blow to the “resistance” leadership would not break their will. Israel had chosen when to ignite the confrontation but the Palestinians would decide its extent and when it would end. According to the release, Israel would pay for its crimes in Gaza (QudsN Twitter account, May 9, 2023).

Other reactions

• Tor Wennesland, special UN envoy to the Middle East peace process, condemned the deaths of the civilians killed in the attack and called them “unacceptable.” He said he was worried about the events in the Gaza Strip and called on all the parties involved to act with restraint and avoid escalation (Tor Wennesland’s Twitter account, May 9, 2023).
• The Egyptian foreign ministry condemned the attack which led to dead and wounded, women and children among them, claiming it was “an Israeli escalation on occupied Palestinian land.” According to the announcement, Egypt objected to the attack, which violated international law and detonated the situation in a way that was liable to go out of control and destroy the contacts for achieving a lull (Egyptian foreign ministry Facebook page, May 9, 2023).
• A spokesman for the Jordanian foreign ministry said the international community had to immediately take action to stop the “aggression” and protect the Palestinian people. He condemned the “Israeli escalation on occupied Palestinian land” and the “storming” of Nablus (Jordan foreign ministry Twitter account, May 9, 2023).
• Nasser Kanaani, spokesman for the Iranian foreign ministry, condemned the “Zionist entity’s terrorist attack” on various location in the Gaza Strip, causing the deaths of three PIJ leaders and the deaths and wounding of “dozens” of civilians, women and children among them (ISNA, May 9, 2023).
• The Syrian foreign ministry said in a statement that Syria emphasized it stood alongside the Palestinian people. Condemnation and denunciation were not enough, what was necessary was implementing measures to put a stop to the Israeli “slaughter” of the Palestinian people (al-Watan Telegram channel, May 9, 2023).
• Turkey condemned the Israeli action which led to the deaths of women and children, saying such shameful acts were unacceptable and that Turkey expected them to stop immediately (Turkish foreign ministry Twitter account, May 9, 2023).
• Qatar condemned “Israel’s cruel aggression against the Gaza Strip” and claimed it began a new chapter in the series of “crimes of the occupation” against the “unarmed” [sic] Palestinian people. According to the announcement, the international community had to act urgently to provide protection for the Palestinian people and to force Israel to stop its violations of international law (Qatar foreign ministry Twitter account, May 9, 2023).

Appendix

The fatalities in the Gaza Strip

• The ministry of health in Gaza announced 13 people had been killed and 20 wounded. Besides the three PIJ terrorists, ten people were killed, women and children among them:
• Khalil Salah Khaled al-Bahtini (Abu Hadi): he was a member of the PIJ’s Military Council and commander of the northern sector of the Gaza Strip for the Jerusalem Brigades. He replaced Taysir al-Jaabari, who died in a targeted killing during Operation Breaking Dawn in August 2022. Al-Bahtini, 44 years old, was born in the al-Tufah neighborhood of Gaza City. He was considered a prominent Jerusalem Brigades commander. He joined the PIJ at an early age and was a partner in establishing the Rawa artistic productions company. Initially he was a political activist, but when the second intifada began he maintained direct contact with many military-terrorist wing commanders. His military activities grew after Israel disengaged from the Gaza Strip in 2005. He established many Jerusalem Brigades squads, especially those overseeing the development of rockets, and was in direct communications with Bahaa Abu al-Atta (who died in a targeted killing on November 12, 2019, during Operation Breaking Dawn) and with Taysir al-Jaabari and Khaled Mansour.
• He commanded one of the military units, participated in the production of arms at the beginning of the second intifada, established the Jerusalem Brigades’ security forces, commanded a da’wah unit, was in charge of military information, contributed to the development of the PIJ’s propaganda department, and was prominent in various artistic productions. After Taysir al-Jaabari was killed he commanded the Jerusalem Brigades’ northern sector of the Gaza Strip and was in charge of its rocket attacks. He also replaced al-Jaabari as PIJ representative in the joint operations room of the Palestinian organizations. He survived a number of attempts to kill him and was wounded in some. His bother Muhammad was killed in 2006 (al-Quds and Shehab, May 9, 2023).^[3]

• Jihad Abd al-Hafez Ghannam/Jihad Shakr Ghannam (Abu Muhammad): He was secretary of the Jerusalem Brigades’ Military Council (Jerusalem Brigades Telegram channel, May 9, 2023).^[4] Ghannam was 62 years old and a prominent Jerusalem Brigades commander. He was born in Rafah in 1961 and joined the PIJ in the 1980s, during the Fathi Shqaqi era,^[5] undergoing training in Sudan and Beirut. He was one of the founders of the Jerusalem Brigades during the second intifada and trained operatives in the Gaza Strip, fired mortar shells and attacked Israeli military vehicles. In 2001 he was seriously wounded and lost both legs and part of his arms. He was considered the most prominent personality in the Jerusalem Brigades and was in direct contact with Ziyad al-Nakhalah, the organization’s secretary general, and had a special relationship with Akram al-Ajouri, the Jerusalem Brigades commander (al-Quds and Shehab, May 9, 2023).
• Ghannam commanded many military-terrorist activities during the second intifada with Muhammad al-Sheikh Khalil,^[6] who was a Jerusalem Brigades commander. Ghannam was responsible for military, administrative, logistic and other files. His brother Ziyad, who was killed in 2007, was his constant companion and supervised the preparation of suicide bombers who carried out attacks in the southern Gaza Strip. Ghannam also oversaw the provision of weapons and the recruitment of military-terrorist cells in Judea and Samaria which recently carried out attacks against Israel. He was responsible for the southern Gaza Strip sector and recently appointed secretary of the Jerusalem Brigades’ Military Council.
• He supervised the development of rocket manufacture along with Khaled Mansour, who died in a targeted killing in Operation Breaking Dawn in August 2022. His house was attacked several times during previous rounds of fighting, and he survived more than five attempts on his life. The most recent was during Operation Guardian of the Walls in May 2021 (al-Quds and Shehab, May 9, 2023).

• Tareq Ibrahim Muhammad Izz al-Din (Abu Muhammad): He was a commander of the Jerusalem Brigades’ military-terrorist activities in Judea and Samaria (Jerusalem Brigades’ Telegram channel, May 9, 2023). He was 48 yeas old and born in the town of Arraba in the Jenin district, where he joined the ranks of the PIJ at an early age. He participated in the first intifada and was detained by Israel five times and spent 12 years in Israeli jails. As a PIJ operative he participated in the second intifada and played a prominent role in clashing with Israeli security forces and in establishing military-terrorist cells. He participated in the fighting in Jenin in 2002 (Operation Defensive Shield). After being detained in 2002 he was sentenced to a life sentence plus ten years for his part in directing the terrorists who carried out the shooting attack in the center of Hadera on October 28, 2001, in which four women were killed and 33 people were wounded.
• While in jail in Israel he studied for an academic education, eventually receiving a BA and an MA in political science from Haifa University. He was released in the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange deal in October 2011 and deported to the Gaza Strip.
• In the Gaza Strip he was the director of the Sawt al-Asra (“Prisoners’ Voice”) radio station. He was the PIJ spokesman for Judea and Samaria affairs and had an important position in the Judea and Samaria arena and commanded many military-terrorist activities and was elected to the PIJ’s political bureau (apparently representing the West Bank) in the first PIJ elections in 2018, and elected for a second term a few months ago (al-Quds, Shehab and al-Araby al-Jadeed, May 9, 2023).^[7]

     
Right: Tareq Izz al-Din (Jerusalem Brigades website, May 9, 2023) Left: The mourning tent erected by Tareq Izz al-Din’s family in Arraba (southwest of Jenin) (QudsN Twitter account, May 9, 2023).

• Jamal Saber Muhammad Khaswan: He was a well-known dentist in the Gaza Strip who formerly served as chairman of the dentists’ association. He was killed in the same attack that killed Tareq Izz al-Din (Twitter account of photojournalist Hassan Aslih, May 9, 2023).^[8] He studied dentistry in Russia during the 1990s, and was chairman of the board of directors of the al-Wafaa Hospital in Gaza City, which is affiliated with Hamas (arabi21 website, and the @jalestinian2 Twitter account, May 9, 2023).^[9] Dr. Ashraf al-Qidra, spokesman for the ministry of health in Ramallah, said Khaswan had Russian citizenship (sputnik in Arabic, May 9, 2023).^[10] The ministry of health in Gaza issued a mourning notice for him (al-Ray News Agency, May 9, 2023).^[11] His body was wrapped for burial in a Hamas flag.

    
Right: Dr. Jamal Khaswan (al-Ray News Agency, May 9, 2023). Left: The body of Dr. Jamal Khaswan and his son wrapped for burial in Hamas flags (Shehab Twitter account, May 9, 2023)

• Ali Tareq Ibrahim Izz al-Din: Son of Tareq Izz al-Din (@jalestinian2 Twitter account, May 9, 2023).^[12] He was killed in the attack on his father’s house in Gaza City.
• Mayar Tareq Ibrahim Izz al-Din: Daughter of Tareq Izz al-Din (@jalestinian2 Twitter account, May 9, 2023). She was killed in the attack on her father’s house in Gaza City.
• Hajar Khalil Salah al-Bahtini: Five year-old daughter of Khalil al-Bahtini. Killed with him and her mother in the attack on their house (@jalestinian2 Twitter account, May 9, 2023).
• Laila Majdi Mustafa al-Bahtini: Wife of Khalil al-Bahtini. Killed with him and their daughter in the attack on their house (@jalestinian2 Twitter account, May 9, 2023).
• Wafaa Shadid Ghannam: Wife of Jihad Ghannam. Killed with him in the attack on their house in Rafah.
• Yussuf Jamal Saber Khaswan: Son of Dr. Jamal Khaswan. Was a medical student at al-Azhar University in Gaza City (arabi21 website, May 9, 2023). Killed with his parents in the same attack that killed Tareq Izz al-Din.
• Dr. Merat Saleh Muhammad Khaswan: Wife of Dr. Hamal Khaswan. Was a medical doctor (Muhammad Badawi and PLSgaza2021 Facebook pages, May 9, 2023).^[13] Killed with her husband and son Yussuf in the same attack that killed Tareq Izz al-Din.
• Dania Alaa Atta Addass: Killed in the attack on the al-Tufah neighborhood in Gaza City, where Khalil al-Bahtini also lived.^[14]
• Iman Alaa Atta Addass: Dania’s sister. Killed in the attack on the al-Tufah neighborhood in Gaza City, where Khalil al-Bahtini also lived (Addass family Facebook page, May 9, 2023).

^[1] The second largest terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip, second only to Hamas. ↑
^[2] For further information see the May 4, 2023 report, "A day of tension following the death of a Palestinian prisoner in an Israeli jail." ↑
^[3] https://www.alquds.com/ar/posts/70662https://shehabnews.com/p/123474 ↑
^[4] https://t.me/sarayaps/14364https://shehabnews.com/p/123474 ↑
^[5] Fathi Shqaqi was one of the founders of the PIJ and its first secretary general, a post he held until he was killed by Israel in Malta in October 1995. ↑
^[6] Died in a targeted killing in September 2005. ↑
^[7] https://www.alaraby.co.uk ↑
^[8] https://twitter.com/hassaneslayeh/status/1655789429263331330 ↑
^[9] https://twitter.com/jalestinian2/status/1655749328621785088 https://arabi21.com/story/1511278 ↑
^[10] https://sputnikarabic.ae ↑
^[11] https://alray.ps/ar/post/274268 ↑
^[12] https://twitter.com/jalestinian2/status/1655749328621785088 https://www.facebook.com/ ↑
^[13] https://www.facebook.com/Moahammed1badawy ↑
^[14] https://www.facebook.com/adass2013 ↑

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