Live Updates: Dozens of Rockets Fired at Israel From Gaza After IDF Kills Islamic Jihad Commander

Israeli Defence Forces announced their aircraft targeted a number of Islamic Jihad targets in the Gaza Strip, a short while ago. According to the military among the targets were several rocket launchers, as well as an underground infrastructure and operations rooms of the organization. In addition IDF said it targeted three operatives, who launched rockets at Israeli territory from the northern Gaza Strip.

The commander of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, Baha Abu Al Ata, who was eliminated as a result of an Israeli strike at his home in the early hours of Tuesday, was plotting another attack in the coming days, Israel Defense Forces spokesman Jonathan Conricus said.

"Early in the morning, at 4 a.m., we had the opportunity to eliminate the terrorist. Based on our intelligence, we realized that he was a ticking bomb, he already had blood on his hands from previous attacks that he planned and perpetrated. ... We know that he was planning another attack in the coming days," the spokesman said during a phone briefing.

According to Conricus, Baha Abu Al Ata had a lot of experience and he intended to carry out a combined attack using different types of weapons and different techniques.

The PIJ commander was monitored for a long time, but the decision to eliminate him was made about a week ago, after which the Israeli army was waiting for a suitable opportunity to strike, he added.

Conricus also noted that Israel’s response to the massive shelling from Gaza was "restrained and calm."

"We are not trying to aggravate the situation," he said, noting that Israel was ready for "various scenarios."

A spokesman also said that he was unaware of any casualties in the IDF ranks.

The death toll from Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip has grown to 10, the spokeswoman for the enclave's Health Ministry, Wafaa Yagi, said on Tuesday.

The United Nations is concerned about the firing of rockets from the Gaza Strip towards Israel that has led to casualties on both sides, UN spokesperson Farhan Haq said in a press briefing on Tuesday.

"We are concerned about reports of casualties on either side and beyond that, we are monitoring the situation very closely," Haq said.

Israel’s new Defense Minister Naftali Bennet on Tuesday declared an 48-hour emergency in a 50 mile area south of the Gaza Strip after a day of fierce cross-border fire.

What the ministry described as a "special situation" will cover the so-called home front area, going as far as Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. It may be lifted sooner, according to the Yedioth Ahronoth daily.

The European External Action Service (EEAS) said on Tuesday that the situation in Israel and the Gaza Strip should be resolved through political means to ensure civilians' safety.

"As the EU has consistently reiterated, only a political solution can put an end to these continuing cycles of violence," spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic said in a statement.

The EU also condemned the ongoing airstrikes and called for "a rapid and complete de-escalation" to ensure security in the area and safeguard the public.

Some 190 rockets were fired by Palestinian militants towards Israel from the Gaza Strip on Tuesday amid the escalation of Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Israeli Army press service reported.

"About 190 rockets have been launched since Tuesday morning from the Gaza Strip towards Israel. The Iron Dome system intercepted dozens of rockets in accordance with standards," the report said.

Israel does not want to see the situation along the Gaza Strip's border worsen but stands ready to defend itself in case any attack, Aviv Kochavi, the chief of General Staff of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), said on Tuesday, commenting on growing tensions after the killing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Group (PIJ) commander.

"We do not want escalation. But we understand that this is possible. We are ready to defend Israel from the sea, on land and in the air. We are ready to defend ourselves against a new attack that has already begun. We are ready to continue targeted operations. We do not want escalation, but we are ready for any scenario," Kochavi said at a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israel has banned Palestinians from fishing off the coast of the Gaza Strip, the head of Gaza's fishermen's union told Sputnik on Tuesday, after a massive exchange of cross-border fire.

"Israel told the Palestinian Association of Palestinian Fishermen that the sea was off-limits until further notice," Zakaria Baker said.

Israel has routinely responded to rocket launches from Gaza by reducing the permissible fishing area, which sustains the Palestinian exclave’s struggling population.

Islamic Jihad continues to fire rockets at Israeli homes. Our tanks just targeted Islamic Jihad terror targets in #Gaza.

Terror targets civilians.

We target terror.

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) November 12, 2019

A large fire at a factory in the settlement of Sderot by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip pic.twitter.com/CcVcAMj907 https://t.co/lu0HEef9xY

— Flat Eric (@armor1er) November 12, 2019

"Israel is not interested in escalation, but we will do everything required to protect ourselves. This could take time. What is needed is stamina and cool-headedness", the Israeli prime minister told reporters at military headquarters. 

Islamic Jihad is a terror group in Gaza. Its stated goal is the annihilation of Israel. Today they fired dozens of rockets into Israel.

We watched as 2 Islamic Jihad operatives prepared to fire more rockets.

We targeted them before they could target us.#JiHadEnough

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) November 12, 2019

“In light of a new situational assessment, in the Shfela, Dan and Yarkon regions it is now permitted to go to work so long as there is a proper bomb shelter that can be reached,” the Israeli military said.

WATCH: Israel's Iron Dome in action as it intercepts rockets above central Israel.

Approx. 20 out of the 50 rockets fired by Islamic Jihad from #Gaza at Israeli civilians have been intercepted. pic.twitter.com/qy8uBMc4dL

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) November 12, 2019

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi are set to address the nation from IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv at 10:30 a.m. (local time).

According to The Times of Israel, citing Dar al-Hayat, an Arabic-language news site, the secretary-general of Islamic Jihad, Ziad al-Nakhala, said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had crossed “all the red lines”.

“We are going to war. Netanyahu has crossed all the red lines in the assassination of Al-Quds Brigades Commander Baha Abu al-Ata. We we will respond forcefully", he was quoted as saying.

Islamic Jihad in #Gaza are firing rockets indiscriminately at civilians across #Israel.

We will defend them. pic.twitter.com/FpO4HYGYdK

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) November 12, 2019

"We stand behind the security forces, who have been working for the success of this morning’s operations for a long time. I know that they and the Israeli government that approved the operation, have Israel’s security, and only that, in their minds. This is no time for political squabbles, and those who do so bring no credit to themselves. It is the time to stop such statements immediately. Israeli citizens – please listen to the life-saving instructions of the IDF Home Front Command and take good care of yourselves", President Reuven Rivlin said.

🚨 RIGHT NOW: Air-raid sirens sounding in Tel Aviv. pic.twitter.com/XoNCUZZtSA

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) November 12, 2019

Fox News correspondent @TreyYingst filmed one of the multiple rockets fired by Islamic Jihad from among civilians in Gaza at Israeli civilians after we carried out a surgical strike on Islamic Jihad commander.

Terror targets civilians. We target terror. #JihadEnough https://t.co/WRwusPKgTi

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) November 12, 2019

“We are prepared for several days of battle, with an aerial defence shield, including in the center of the country,” The Times of Israel reported, citing an IDF spokesman as saying.

"The fight against terror is ongoing and requires moments in which difficult decisions must be made. The political echelon and the IDF made the right decision last night for all Israeli citizens and the residents of the South. Blue and White will support all appropriate decisions made for the security of the State and will put the security of all of its residents above politics. Every terrorist who threatens our security should know that he will end up dead", Blue and White Chairman Benny Gantz said, while commenting on the IDF operation.