The defense establishment is preparing for the possibility of rocket fire from the Gaza Strip in retaliation to the extensive counterterror operation in Jenin.
Kan News reported that Israel sent Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) in Gaza a clear message according to which any attack would be answered with a heavy hand.
The message that was sent was: "Don’t intervene because you are not the target. If you shoot, we will respond harshly. An attack would be a mistake, and we will respond with all our might," a diplomatic source stated.
A different diplomatic source said that the purpose of the operation is to "end Jenin's role as a city of refuge for terrorism." He added that the operation would continue as long as necessary, noting that the operation was approved about ten days ago, on the recommendation of the security establishment, by the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense. Likud MK Danny Danon urged action "before Jenin becomes another Gaza."
According to IDF data, so far, four terrorists have been eliminated since the start of the operation, 15 were arrested, and a joint operations center, which served as the joint operational command center for the Jenin Camp and operatives of the "Jenin Brigade," was attacked.
The operational command center also served as an advanced observation and reconnaissance center, a place where armed terrorists would gather before and after terrorist activities, a site for weapons and explosives, and as a hub for coordination and communication among the terrorists.