On November 13 Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have increased readiness, bracing from a possible retaliation from Islamic Jihad for the destruction of the tunnel near the border of the Gaza Strip, Nana10 reported.
According to state-run Israeli KAN 11 TV channel, IDF has deployed Iron Dome missile defense systems, with Ynet reporting that the systems were deployed in central Israel. Citing sources in Islamic Jihad, KAN 11 later reported that Islamic Jihad has no plans to conduct attacks on Israel, as they do not wish to endanger the population of the Gaza Strip.
However, Islamic Jihad said in a statement on November 12: “It is our right to respond to any aggression, including the right to respond to the crime of attacking the tunnel east of Dir al-Balah, where 12 Mujahideen from Al-Qassam and Saraya al-Quds fell. To clarify the matter, our children and our people are also dear to us, as are our leaders, and the terrorism and the threats of the enemy do not frighten us.”
IDF officials have refused to comment, although the deployment of Iron Domes suggests that the military anticipates missiles fired at Tel-Aviv and Jerusalem from the Gaza Strip.
On October 30th, the IDF blew up a tunnel via a series of airstrikes near the border of the Gaza Strip, an act the Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed killed 12 members of the group.
