Israel is under fire. Over 300 rockets have been fired at Israelis since Tuesday morning.
What happened Tuesday morning?
Early Tuesday morning, the Israeli military, having previously obtained credible intelligence on the whereabouts of Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) commander Baha Abu Al Ata, eliminated the terrorist leader in a surgical strike conducted by the Israeli Air Force.
Abu Al Ata was responsible for the vast majority of PIJ terror activity emanating from the Gaza Strip. He was directly connected to numerous rocket, sniper and drone attacks, the sole aim of which was the murder of innocent Israelis.
Funded by Iran, PIJ has emerged as one of the most violent terror groups in Gaza.
According to the IDF, Abu Al Ata was a “ticking time bomb†in the latter stages of preparing terror attacks designed to murder a large number of civilians. With this looming threat and actionable intelligence, Israel acted in defense of its citizens launching a justified and necessary operation to remove the direct threat to its safety and security while minimizing civilian casualties.
What has happened since Tuesday morning?
Since Abu Al Ata was killed, PIJ has launched an excess of 300 rockets against Israel. Israeli civilians in cities as far from Gaza as Tel Aviv spent the night in bomb shelters as rockets rained down disrupting the lives of millions. Maternity wards in southern Israel were evacuated as the barrage continued for hours. Schools across parts of the country were closed, with many set to remain closed throughout Wednesday.
While more than 50 Israelis have been wounded as a result of these attacks, these numbers are far lower than they might have been were it not for Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system and the Jewish state’s ubiquitous bomb shelters.
In response to the hundreds of rockets fired at its civilian population the IDF has launched airstrikes against PIJ targets throughout the Gaza Strip. PIJ leaders continue to talk of escalating terror attacks and rocket fire against Israel, while other terror groups in Gaza have threatened to join the attacks against Israel.
What can we do?
Pray. Please pray for the people of Israel and for the cessation of violence.
I started my day by listening to the news of rockets falling on different parts of Israel and discussed with my wife whether we explained to our children well enough what to do if a siren went off and they had to run to a bomb shelter. Then I came to the Gallery and found your letter of support and kindness.
Thank you so much. Please tell all of your friends and followers that letters and support like this are sometimes better than physical bomb shelters.
Any time you or your friends are in Israel please come and say hello. It will be an honor to see you and thank you in person.
- Udi from the Blue and White Gallery in Jerusalem.
Israel has a moral obligation to defend its citizens against violence and terror
