Gantz talks about "pre-emptive strikes" abroad
3 Palestinians killed in clash with Israeli forces in Nablus
A Palestinian throws stones at an Israeli patrol during clashes in Nablus.
EPA
Yesterday, the Palestinian Ministry of Health announced the killing of three Palestinians, and the wounding of others, four of them critically, as a result of the Israeli army's storming of the city of Nablus in the West Bank, while Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said that Israel might carry out "preventive strikes" abroad.
The ministry indicated that the medical teams transferred the injured to Rafidia Hospital in Nablus, where they are working to revive two very critical injuries.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health said that the dead in the city of Nablus were: Ibrahim al-Nabulsi, Islam Sabbouh, and Hussein Jamal Taha.
Eyewitnesses confirmed that a large force of the Israeli army stormed the Old City of Nablus, where the sounds of an exchange of fire were heard. Clashes with stones also erupted with the Israeli army in other locations in Nablus, the second largest city in the West Bank.
The Israeli army said in a statement that one of the Palestinians killed was Ibrahim Al-Nabulsi, a leader in the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the armed wing of the Fatah movement.
The army had said earlier that "special forces are surrounding the house of a wanted man in Nablus, and there is an exchange of fire," according to what AFP reported.
According to reports, the Israeli army stormed the city of Nablus and quickly headed to the Old City, where it surrounded a house where Palestinian fighters were believed to be holed up, and shelled it with rocket-propelled grenades.
The Palestinian news agency "Wafa" stated that the Israeli forces cordoned off the area, and snipers climbed a number of buildings and fired at the civilians.
The Israeli army, which announced the end of the operation, added in its statement: "It is suspected that Nabulsi committed a number of shooting attacks against civilians and soldiers in and around Nablus, including shootings in the Joseph's Tomb complex," as reported by Agence France-Presse.
For its part, Palestinian media reported that armed clashes took place between the "Al-Quds Brigades" of the "Jihad Movement" and the Israeli forces in the city.
On Saturday, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz hinted at the possibility of targeting Islamic Jihad officials abroad, who he said could be seen in "restaurants and hotels in Tehran, Syria and Lebanon."
"They will also have to pay the price," Gantz said.
On Monday, a day after an Egyptian-brokered truce ended violence in Gaza, he said Israel might carry out "preventive strikes" abroad.
He added, "In the future, if necessary, we will launch a preemptive strike to defend the citizens of Israel, its sovereignty and its infrastructure, and this applies to all fronts, from Tehran to Khan Yunis."
Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said Monday evening that the strikes in Gaza "deal a devastating blow to the enemy."
Then, he spoke by phone with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to express his "appreciation" and "his very important role in maintaining regional stability," according to a statement issued by his office.
According to the Islamic Jihad Movement, the armistice agreement stipulates, among other things, “Egypt’s commitment to work for the release of the two prisoners, Khalil Awawdeh and Bassam al-Saadi,” who were arrested prior to the Israeli operation against Gaza.
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