Israel has warned the armed Palestinian resistance in Gaza from launching any rockets from the coastal enclave into the Israeli cities adjacent to the territory in response to its latest attack on Jenin in the occupied West Bank, according to Palestinian security sources.
Speaking under the condition of anonymity to The New Arab, a senior official close to Hamas, an Islamist group controlling Gaza, said, "Israel sent a clear message to the resistance factions in Gaza through Egypt that it will not hesitate to respond to any attempts of launching rockets from Gaza."
"Israel claimed that its military operation in Jenin is specific and limited and the armed factions in Gaza should not interfere. They should stay out of the game because the target is not Gaza, and if the rockets are fired, they will respond harshly," the source added.
At dawn on Monday, the Israeli army carried out a large-scale military offensive in the Jenin refugee camp, north of the occupied West Bank, under the pretext of eliminating Palestinian fighters in the territory.
Local eyewitnesses said that dozens of armoured vehicles backed by drones and helicopters stormed the city and the refugee camp and that more than ten airstrikes were carried out during the exchange of fire between Palestinian militants and Israeli soldiers.
At least seven Palestinians, including children, were killed by the Israeli army and more than 27 others were wounded and transferred to local hospitals to receive their treatment, according to the Ramallah-based health ministry.
Israeli officials claimed that the military operation against Jenin may last for 72 hours unless the fighters carried out more attacks against the Israeli soldiers.
The expected Israeli military offensive raised the alarm in the coastal enclave, which has many armed factions including Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) as "the resistance will not keep silent for a long time," according to some political experts.
As a result, the Israeli air defence systems are on high alert, especially in the south of Israel amid fears of firing rockets from Gaza, Israeli media outlets reported.
Up to now, the Gaza-based armed resistance groups have remained silent. However, the PIJ said in a press statement sent to TNA, "Jenin will not surrender, and the fighters are determined to confront and fight regardless of the sacrifices."
"All options are open to strike the enemy in response to its aggression in Jenin. The aggression against Jenin will not achieve its goals, and we will remain Jenin as a symbol of steadfastness, and Jenin will not surrender, and our fighters are determined to confront and fight, regardless of the sacrifices," added the PIJ. "That the Zionist enemy bears full responsibility for all the consequences of this aggression. The resistance will confront the enemy and will defend the Palestinian people, and all options are open to strike the enemy in response to its aggression in Jenin."
For his part, Hazem Qassem, spokesperson of Hamas in Gaza, said in a press statement, "The widespread aggression against Al-Qassam Jenin will not achieve its goals and the Zionist enemy will fail." He further stressed that "the enemy's fascist extremist government, headed by the criminal Netanyahu, bears all responsibility for the aggression" against Jenin.
"Jenin has proven throughout history that it is unbreakable and has a great ability to withstand the enemy. The resistance in Jenin is waging this battle with courage and heroism against the barbaric Zionist aggression," he added.
"Jenin, along with all the historical cities of Palestine, will continue its revolution and uprising despite the occupation's crimes as all Palestinian people stand firm and stronger than the occupation's military machine, according to Qassem.
He also stressed that the "resistance's leadership" is following up on what is happening in Jenin, with its options open in support "for our people and our resistance in Jenin".
"Unless this aggression stops, the response options will be broad and comprehensive," he concluded.