Gantz: Iran transfers weapons to the Islamic Jihad, and is directly involved in the latest escalation

The Minister of Defense said that the senior officials of the Islamic Jihad meet frequently with the leadership in Tehran, and that the Ayatollahs' regime has turned the organization into its branch in Gaza that carries out "shooting on population concentrations in Israel"

Amir Bohbot

11/08/2022

Thursday, August 11, 2022, 12:40 Updated: 12:54

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In video: Prime Minister Yair Lapid and Defense Minister Benny Gantz in joint statements to the media (Photo: AP)

Defense Minister Benny Gantz today (Thursday) accused Iran of being involved in the latest security escalation in Gaza.

According to him, the senior officials of the Islamic Jihad meet frequently with the leadership in Tehran, and the Ayatollahs' regime has turned the organization into its branch in Gaza, which carries out shootings at population concentrations in Israel.

"In Operation Dawn, more than a thousand rockets of the Islamic Jihad were fired from population centers at Israeli population centers where there are kindergartens, schools and many civilians," Gantz said during a meeting he held with Cypriot Defense Minister Charlemagne Petrides in Kirya in Tel Aviv.

"Even in the recent escalation in Gaza, there was the involvement of the regime of the Ayatollahs from Iran, which in recent years has turned the Islamic Jihad into an extension in Gaza. Within this framework, visits and meetings between senior officials of the Islamic Jihad and the Iranian leadership are held frequently in Tehran," Gantz added.

According to him, "In recent years, through the Revolutionary Guards, Iran has been transferring tens of millions of dollars to Islamic Jihad every year. This is in addition to transferring knowledge for the construction of a military base in Gaza and attempts to transfer a military base that will be directed at the civilian population. Israel will continue to act against Iran's emissaries together with our partners."

Throwing a rocket that fell in Ashkelon.

Shabbat (Photo: Avi Rokah)

Operation Dawn against the Palestinian Islamic Jihad began last Friday and lasted 55 hours until Sunday, with a cease-fire that took effect at 11:30 p.m.

The IDF launched the operation with a targeted attack on Taysir al-Jabari, the commander of the northern division of the Islamic Jihad in Gaza, and the next day Khaled Mansour, the commander of the southern division, was also killed.

Throughout the operation, the Israeli Air Force attacked targets identified with the Islamic Jihad, including munitions warehouses and military positions, rocket launching facilities and other military targets. On the Israeli side, a "special situation in the home front" was implemented within 80 km of the Strip, and residents of the Gaza Strip were instructed to stay near protected areas.

During the operation, the Islamic Jihad launched about 1,100 rockets, of which about 200 fell and exploded in the territory of the Gaza Strip, causing the death of 15 Palestinians, including at least seven children.

About 380 rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome with 96% success, according to IDF data.

More in Walla!

Defense Minister Gantz Lewalla!: We have no restrictions on the killing of Islamic Jihad members, even in a ceasefire

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• Army and security

Tags

• IDF

• Gaza Strip

• The Islamic Jihad

• Iran

• Operation Dawn