The IDF has deployed Iron Dome batteries in the Gush Dan region, encompassing Tel Aviv and central Israel, in anticipation of a possible attack from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terror group, it was cleared for publication Tuesday.
Increasing precautionary measures against a revenge attack for the IDF’s recent explosion of a terror tunnel that killed 14 PIJ and Hamas terrorists, Israel also shut down three tourist sites near the Gaza Strip.
Speaking during an Award Ceremony for Excellence in Technology Tuesday evening, IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot warned “the current reality obliges us to look at the various challenges.
"Beyond the northern border, the fighting in Syria is continuing, which is being exploited by Iran and Hezbollah to set up positions. The IDF faces a wide range of threats that are close by and far away,” Eisenkot said.
The heightened security arrangements began in earnest on Monday night when Israel deployed Iron Dome batteries in the southern area of the country.
Despite growing concerns in Israel of an escalation of hostilities with the southern enclave, Palestinian sources within Gaza told Ynet that Egypt has been exerting significant pressures on the PIJ to desist from launching any kind of revenge attack.
The London-based Arab newspaper Al-Hayat reported reported Tuesday that is the Iranian-backed organization has upped its readiness to its highest level, and that it is closely monitoring Israeli citizens living in Gaza-bordering communities.
On Saturday night, Israel promised to respond to any revenge attack with “power and determination.”
Warning the PIJ in Arabic that it is “playing with fire” in a video posted online, Maj. Gen. Yoav (Poli) Mordechai stressed that Israel would respond to any attack against the group itself and Hamas. “We will respond with force against Hamas,” Mordechai said.
The next day, members of the organization said the threats were are tantamount to “a declaration of war .”