[Crimson Dynamo]

Tayseer Jabari, the commander of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in northern
Gaza, in an undated photo. Jabari was targeted and killed in an Israeli airstrike
on August 5, 2022.

IDF says terror group was preparing major attack on civilians; 15 terrorists
killed in initial strikes; call-up of reservists approved; PM: ‘We won’t let terror
group set agenda’

IDF spokesman Ron Kochav tells Channel 12 “we’re in the midst of a targeted
campaign against the Palestinian Islamic Jihad,” confirming reports that the
army is not trying to drag Hamas into the ongoing conflict and is hoping to
keep the campaign limited in scope.

Kochav references the November 2019 round of violence when the IDF killed
senior PIJ commander Baha Abu al-Ata, sparking a three-day military
campaign. It managed to keep Hamas out of the fighting then and is hoping
to do so once again, Kochav says.

Formed in 1981, PIJ is a smaller and more hardline Palestinian militant group
than Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip.

Speaking on the Gaza operation, Israeli army spokesman Richard Hecht
described the operation as a "pre-emptive attack" and said: "We haven't
finished yet."

Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz visited communities near Gaza on
Friday, saying authorities were preparing "actions that will remove the threat
from this region," without elaborating.

"We will operate with internal resilience and external strength in order to
restore routine life in Israel's south," he said, "We do not seek conflict, yet
we will not hesitate to defend our citizens, if required."



https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-august-5-2022/