Israel’s Operation Breaking Dawn against Gaza-based Islamic Jihad (PIJ) entered its second day, with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) continuing to fire at targets in the Strip. In retaliation, through the night and continuing this morning, Israeli towns close to the border with Gaza came under rocket fire. Warning sirens have been sounding since last night in the southern Israeli villages near the Gaza border, the southern towns of Sderot, Ashkelon, Ashdod and Yavne, and also in the more central cities of Rishon Lezion, Holon and Bat Yam. Citizens in the communities near Gaza were instructed to stay near the shelters. Citizens in central-south cities were instructed to be sure their shelters are open in the event of sirens.
Prime Minister Yair Lapid convenes this evening the Security Cabinet for an update at the Defense Ministry headquarters in Tel Aviv. He has also invited opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu for a security briefing tomorrow morning.
