Israel's August 2022 Assault on Gaza

Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian minor during a late-night raid in Jenin refugee camp where Islamic Jihad commander Bassam al-Saadi was arrested after being shot and injured; 2 others were also arrested during the raid at al-Saadi's home. A general strike was declared in Jenin after the killing and arrests.

All crossings between Israel and Gaza were closed for the 2d day in a row. Israel also sent more troops to the Gaza fence area.

The Gaza power plant said it had to reduce the daily supply of electricity from 8 hours to 2-3 hours due to not receiving fuel from Israel, as Israel has closed all crossings into Gaza.

In Gaza, Israel launched an operation dubbed Operation Breaking Dawn by assassinating northern Gaza Islamic Jihad commander Taysser al-Jabari and 1 of his bodyguards in an air strike on the Palestine Tower, a 13-story building in Gaza City; 2 stories of the building were severely damaged. Shortly after, another 8 Palestinians were killed in air strikes throughout Gaza: 3 on a street in al-Shuja‘iya, including a 5-year-old; 1 in al-Zaytun; 1 in her home in al-Fukhari; 1 in Beit Lahiya; and 2 in Khan Yunis. 63, including 9 children, were injured in the air strikes, which also caused extensive damage to property. Islamic Jihad responded by firing rockets at Israel; no injuries were reported. Israel had prepared for the operation by closing off areas near Gaza in Israel and calling up thousands of reservists. The PA called for an immediate ceasefire.

In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians protesting Israeli air strikes on Gaza at the Damascus Gate plaza, assaulting several and arresting 1. In Gaza, Israel continued its assault on Gaza for the 2d day in a row, assassinating Islamic Jihad commander in southern Gaza Khaled Mansour, using fighter jets to fire 6 missiles on a 3-story building in Rafah refugee camp; 2 other members of Islamic Jihad were killed in the assassination, as were 4 others, including 1 child. 35 were injured, including 18 children. Israel further killed 7 other Palestinians in air strikes: 2 on a street in Beit Hanun; 2 riding a motorcycle in Khan Yunis; 2 near a market in Khan Yunis; and 1 while firing a mortar shell east of Jabaliya. Additionally, 7 Palestinians were killed in an explosion in Jabaliya refugee camp, including 4 children; it was unclear whether the explosion was caused by an Israeli missile or misfire of an Islamic Jihad rocket. This raises the death toll from Israel's Operation Breaking Dawn to 31 since 8/5, including 10 children. 265, including 95 children, have been injured. The Gaza power plant stopped operations in the middle of the day due to a lack of fuel. 2 Israeli soldiers were reportedly lightly injured by a mortar shell.

The UNRWA closed all of its facilities, except for health services, in Gaza due to the Israeli attacks.

Islamic Jihad leader Ziad al-Nakhala met with head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Hossein Salami in Tehran. Major-General Salami told al-Nakhala that Palestinians are not alone in their struggle against Israel.

U.S. national security council spokesperson John Kirby said that the U.S. is working with Israeli and Palestinian partners to achieve calm in Gaza but “remain[s] unwavering in our commitment to Israel's security.” Spokesperson Kirby also said that the U.S. “absolutely fully supports Israel's right to defend itself against terrorist groups.” Secretary of defense Lloyd Austin “expressed concern regarding reports of civilian deaths and called for a timely and thorough investigation into any civilian casualties,” according to a readout of Austin's conversation with Israeli defense minister Benny Gantz.

In East Jerusalem, more than 2,000 Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound, including MK Itamar Ben-Gvir. During the tours, which lasted most of the day, Israeli forces violently arrested 1 Palestinian Agency French Presse journalist covering the event, assaulted 6 other journalists, and arrested 12 others. Qatar, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia condemned Israel for the large-scale tour of the compound. In Gaza, an Egyptian-mediated ceasefire went into effect at 11:30 pm after 3 days of intense Israeli bombing. Before the ceasefire went into effect, Israel killed 18 Palestinians: 2 on a street in Beit Hanun; 2 outside of their home in Jabalia refugee camp; 4 on a street in Gaza City; 4, including 3 children, in their garden in al-Bureij refugee camp; 1 child outside of her home in Beit Hanun; and 5 children at a cemetery in Jabalia. Israel initially said Islamic Jihad was responsible for the killing of the 5 children, but later admitted responsibility. 49 Palestinians were killed during the 3-day assault, including 16 children. 360 Palestinians were injured, including 95 children. Israel claimed that 580 rockets were fired at Israel, with 95% of them being intercepted and 2 Israeli soldiers lightly injured. Some 1,750 housing units in Gaza were said to have been damaged during the Israeli assault, while 71 units were completely destroyed. Hamas did not participate in the hostilities.

Before the abovementioned ceasefire took effect, several Arab countries expressed concerned over, and condemned, Israel's assault on Gaza. Bahrain, Lebanon, Türkiye, and Qatar condemned the Israeli attacks, while Morocco and the UAE urged action to reduce tension. The Arab League called on the UN security council to take immediate action to end the Israeli aggression. The PA said it was involved in mediating the ceasefire and had secured a session at the UN security council with support from France, China, Norway, Ireland, and the UAE.

U.S. president Joe Biden called for an investigation into the civilian casualties in Gaza, saying it should be investigated whether some of the casualties stemmed from misfired rockets by Islamic Jihad.

Israel partially reopened crossings into Gaza for humanitarian aid after closing all crossings on 8/2 in anticipation of its assault on Gaza. New shipments of fuel also allowed the Gaza power plant to resume operations.

U.S. president Joe Biden thanked Egypt for mediating the ceasefire that went into effect on 8/7 between Israel and Islamic Jihad.

The UN envoy for the Middle East peace process warned the UN security council that the ceasefire between Islamic Jihad and Israel was fragile and that the only way to secure longtime peace is through a 2-state solution based on the 1967 lines. PA UN envoy Riyad Mansour called on members of the Security Council to protect Palestinian lives and pressure Israel to end its blockade of Gaza. The Security Council emergency session was called by France, China, Norway, Ireland, and the UAE in response to Israel's attacks on Gaza over the weekend, dubbed Operation Breaking Dawn.

U.S. ambassador to Israel Tom Nides said in an interview that the U.S. fully backed Israel's attack on Gaza over the weekend, calling Islamic Jihad “bad guys.” Ambassador Nides further said that the U.S. was not informed about Israel's Operation Breaking Dawn beforehand but was not surprised.

In Gaza, 2 Palestinians died of wounds sustained from Israel's attacks on Gaza over the weekend, including 1 child.

Middle East Eye reported that Islamic Jihad was angry with Egypt after its intelligence service allegedly informed the group that Israel was not seeking an escalation hours before attacking Gaza in Operation Breaking Dawn.

In Gaza, 1 Palestinian man succumbed to injuries sustained during Israel Operation Breaking Dawn.

Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh said in a statement that Qatar had agreed to finance the rebuilding of homes destroyed by Israel during last weekend's Operation Breaking Dawn.

Israel indicted Islamic Jihad leader in the West Bank Bassam al-Saadi on charges of membership, support, and activity in a terrorist organization.

Khalil Awawdeh suspended his over-170-day hunger strike to protest his administrative detention after Israel said it would not extend his administrative detention period beyond 10/2. Haaretz reported that Egyptian security officials had been mediating between Islamic Jihad and Israel to secure Awawdeh's release and that talks continued for the release of Bassam al-Saadi. Their release was reportedly a demand by Islamic Jihad for agreeing to the ceasefire after Operation Breaking Dawn. Awawdeh is currently hospitalized for treatment related to his hunger strike.