On May 9, 2023, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched Operation Shield and Arrow with a series of airstrikes targeting three commanders in Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), a terrorist organization based in Gaza. The Operation resulted from escalating tensions between Israel and Palestinian terror groups in April and May 2023. The conflict was sparked when PIJ responded to the death of PIJ official Khader Adnan on May 2 by sending a barrage of rockets into Israel and threatening further violence. The Operation lasted for five days until a ceasefire deal was reached on May 13. Negotiations took several days and were assisted by Egypt. Notably, Hamas did not take part in the conflict, and Israel only targeted PIJ and other terrorist groups in Gaza.
During Operation Shield and Arrow, terrorist groups in Gaza fired 1,468 rockets and mortars at Israeli homes and families. Two civilians were murdered by rocket fire targeting Israel; an elderly Israeli woman whose apartment was hit by rockets, and a Gazan man working in Israel. The IDF struck 422 PIJ targets in Gaza, including rocket launchers, military sites, command centers, and weapons manufacturing sites. According to the Hamas-run Ministry of Health in Gaza, 33 Palestinians were killed. According to the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center , 20 of the people killed were terrorists, 10 were civilians tragically killed in Israeli strikes on PIJ leaders, and 3 were civilians killed by rockets that fell short and landed in Gaza.
Four things to know about Operation Shield and Arrow
What is Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ)?
PIJ is an internationally recognized terrorist organization . Its main areas of operation are Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, and Syria. Backed by the Iranian and Syrian regimes, PIJ is the second-largest terrorist group in Gaza after Hamas , which rules the territory. PIJ rejects the peace process, a two-state solution, or any political resolution to the conflict. It seeks Israel’s destruction and is directly responsible for murdering innocent Israeli civilians through suicide bombings , rockets, shootings, and other attacks. Since Israel’s 2005 disengagement from Gaza, PIJ has fired thousands of rockets into Israel.
Facts and context about the current round of violence:
Much of the information below is based on breaking news reports about this ongoing situation. We will update this backgrounder as additional facts and context become available. All dates and times referenced are in Israel Standard Time.
May 2-3
– Adnan was arrested in February 2023, along with other PIJ officials, for membership in a terrorist organization, inciting violence against Israeli civilians, and support for terrorism. Immediately after his arrest, he began his hunger strike and refused medical treatment. A video of Adnan speaking at a 2007 rally shows him encouraging terror attacks and suicide bombings . In the video, Adnan says, “Who among you will carry the next explosive belt? Who among you will fire the next bullets? Who among you will have his body parts blown all over?” In another video from 2022, he praised two terrorists who murdered eight Israelis.
May 9
– Bahtini was reportedly directing a terrorist cell which was recently caught by Israeli forces attempting to manufacture rockets in the West Bank.
May 10
May 11
May 12
May 13
Rocket fire continued into Israel while the IDF struck PIJ targets in Gaza. A second civilian, a Gazan man who was working in Israel, was killed by a rocket. Two other men were injured in the same blast. After days of negotiations, a ceasefire was reached and came into effect at 10:00 pm. PIJ violated the ceasefire minutes after it came into effect, however, the terrorist group later stated that the conflict had ended.
We are relieved that this tragic round of violence has come to an end.
