Live blog update| Gaza Under Attack
This is an entry from: Ceasefire deal ends Israeli bombing in Gaza that left 44 dead

Evening update

5 August 2022 22:31 BST

Hello MEE readers.

Israel on Friday launched a series of air strikes and artillery fire in Gaza in an attack that left at least 10 Palestinians dead, including a five-year-old girl. At least 75 people have been injured as well, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, as one of the air strikes hit a residential building in central Gaza.

Palestinian and Israeli analysts told MEE that the timing and the conduct of the attack was strange. The timeline of events goes like this: Israel arrested Bassam el-Saadi, a senior member of the Islamic Jihad group, in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin earlier this week. Then, after receiving no response from the Islamic Jihad, Israel launched air strikes that killed Palestinians, including a top member of the group, on the grounds that the organisation was planning to attack.

In response to Israel's bombardment of Gaza, the Islamic Jihad group said that it fired more than 100 rockets into Israel.

"The bottom line is, after Israel allegedly tried to prevent Islamic Jihad attacks, it is now receiving rockets that apparently would not have happened if Israel did not attack first," veteran Israeli analyst Meron Rapoport told MEE.

The US issued a statement that strongly defended Israel, saying it "has a right to defend itself". US President Joe Biden visited Israel just a few weeks ago.

Hamas, the leading political faction in the Gaza Strip, said that it had "all options open" in response to Israel, while Islamic Jihad said that "there are no red lines in this battle" and the city of Tel Aviv will fall under rocket fire.

Sirens have gone off across Israel amid the rocket fire from Gaza, while Palestinians continue to fear further Israeli bombardment.

Several Palestinian residents of the apartment building bombed by Israel were shocked at the attack, questioning why Israel's military was continuing to bomb civilians.

That's a wrap from the Middle East Eye team for now, please continue to follow us for more updates, and check out our Twitter and Instagram for the latest coverage.