Israeli forces eliminated two high-ranking commanders of the Islamic Jihad, intensifying their ongoing operation that has resulted in the loss of 28 lives in the Gaza Strip, including innocent women and children. In a retaliatory response, Palestinian rocket barrages from across the border claimed their first Israeli casualty on Thursday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated that there would be no immediate halt to the ongoing strikes, stating that operations were proceeding at full pace. In a recorded video statement from an air base, he warned, “Whoever comes to harm us – his blood is forfeit.”

Meanwhile, efforts to mediate a resolution to the crisis were underway, as senior Islamic Jihad official Mohammad al-Hindi held talks in Cairo with Egyptian officials. However, despite Egypt’s attempts to calm the situation and resume the political process, no immediate breakthrough was evident.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry acknowledged the challenges, stating, “Egypt’s efforts to calm things down and resume the political process have not yet borne fruit,” during a press conference in Berlin.

The deaths of Ali Ghali, head of Islamic Jihad’s rocket force, and Ahmed Abu Daqqa, a senior commander of its armed wing, brought the total number of senior figures from the faction killed to five since Israel initiated strikes on Gaza earlier this week. Additionally, two gunmen from a splinter group were killed in a separate attack. Tragically, four women and six children have also lost their lives in the violence.

According to the Israeli military, Ghali and Abu Daqqa were instrumental in coordinating rocket launches into Israel in recent days, as well as during previous clashes with Islamic Jihad. The group, which is backed by Iran and allied with Hamas, controls the densely populated coastal territory.

As rocket sirens blared in Israeli towns near Gaza, the Iron Dome interceptors successfully shot down some incoming rockets. However, in the city of Rehovot, located south of Tel Aviv, a direct rocket hit on a four-story building claimed the life of one person and injured five others, as reported by medical personnel.

Islamic Jihad hailed the attack as a “blessed response” in a statement, emphasizing the group’s determination in the face of the ongoing conflict. This fatality marked the first casualty in Israel during this round of fighting. The Israeli military claims that its Iron Dome and David’s Sling rocket interceptors have achieved a 96% success rate in shooting down enemy projectiles.

Israeli forces have targeted 158 sites in Gaza thus far, with the military reporting that at least 523 rockets have been launched, 380 of which have crossed into Israel. In their continued strikes, Israeli forces have hit various targets, including a mortar post, a command room for anti-tank missile attacks, and rocket launchers.

The military also highlighted that over 100 rockets, many of them improvised, misfired and fell short, resulting in the deaths of four Palestinians, including a 10-year-old girl. Islamic Jihad denied these claims, with faction spokesman Dawoud Shehab accusing Israel of fabricating stories and evading responsibility for civilian casualties.

The conflict shows no signs of abating, as both sides remain locked in a cycle of violence, raising concerns about further casualties and the need for a peaceful resolution.