Gaza violence
Australian ambassador to Israel Paul Griffiths backed the Jewish state as it targeted Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) sites in Gaza.
As terrorist rockets streaked through the sky towards Israeli population centres over the weekend, Australian ambassador to Israel Paul Griffiths backed the Jewish state as it targeted Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) sites in Gaza.
“Australia respects Israel’s right to defend itself. We call on parties to take immediate steps to halt the violence, maintain restraint and restore calm. The protection of civilians remains paramount,” he tweeted.
Around 1100 projectiles were launched at Israel over the three days, in fighting that began on Friday after intelligence of an imminent terrorist attack led Israel to launch Operation Breaking Dawn with strikes against the Iranian-backed terrorist group.
An Egypt-brokered ceasefire came into effect on Monday morning, Australian Eastern Standard time.
Israel estimated that of the 51 people killed in Gaza during the operation, 24 were PIJ terrorists and 11 non-combatants were killed in Israeli strikes.
It said 16 Gazans were killed by misfired PIJ rockets. In remarks picked up by global media, the IDF said it had video and radar proof that seven civilians, including four children who died in a blast in Jabaliya fell victim to a misfired terrorist projectile.
Two senior PIJ commanders were killed in the Israeli strikes.
While Israel claimed to have achieved its objectives in the operation, Prime Minister Yair Lapid also appealed to the people of Gaza to choose a path of peace and coexistence.
Australian Jewish leaders welcomed the ceasefire this week but pressed the importance for Gaza’s terrorist groups to be disarmed for there to be any prospect of avoiding another round of violence.
Israel did not target any Hamas members or infrastructure, and the larger Iran-backed group – which controls the strip – stayed out of the fray.
comments