Four Rockets Fired at Israel After Terrorist’s Hunger-Strike Death

Palestinian Islamic Jihad warns that Israel will “pay the price” for Khader Adnan’s demise.

By Israel Today Staff | | Topics: Terrorism, War on Terror
Palestinian protesters outside the Red Cross building in eastern Jerusalem hold placards in support of hunger-striking Islamic Jihad terrorist Khader Adnan, Feb. 10, 2023. Photo by Sliman Khader/Flash90.

Nearly three months after Israeli forces arrested Khader Adnan, the senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad operative has died in prison, following an 87-day hunger strike.

Reuters cited Israeli prison authorities who said Adnan, 45, “refused to undergo medical tests and receive medical treatment” and “was found unconscious in his cell” at Nitzan Prison in Ramle early Tuesday morning.

Efforts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful.

Around 6:30 a.m., sirens sounded in southern Israel.

“Three rockets were launched from Gaza towards Israeli territory. No interceptors were launched in accordance with policy,” the Israel Defense Forces tweeted.

A fourth projectile was shortly thereafter fired towards the Jewish state, striking in an open area.

The Iron Dome missile defense system only fires interceptor missiles to down projectiles headed towards populated areas.

“The occupation [Israel] will pay the price for [Adnan’s] death,” which “will be a lesson for generations,” said PIJ in a statement. “We will not leave this path as long as Palestine remains under occupation.”

Hamas, which rules Gaza, described Adnan’s death as a “coldblooded execution by the Israeli security services,” and warned that “the Palestinian people will not let this crime pass by in silence.

“The path of revolution and resistance will escalate,” said the terror organization.

The IDF was preparing for a possible escalation in Palestinian violence.

Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh called Adnan’s death a “deliberate assassination.” Ramallah said it would lodge a complaint at the International Criminal Court.

In February, Israeli security forces detained Adnan in his hometown of Arrabe, near Jenin, on suspicion of involvement in terrorist activities.

Adnan, long accused of being a spokesperson for PIJ, has regularly been held in administrative detention over the past 15 years, and is known for having gone on several lengthy hunger strikes.

Solidarity event in Gaza City during Adnan’s long hunger strike. Photo by Majdi Fathi/TPS

Terrorist’s widow calls for calm

Adnan’s wife, Randa Musa, told reporters at their home, “In all the sheikh’s previous hunger strikes not a single drop of blood was shed and today with his death we will not want a single drop of blood to be shed.”

She added, “We don’t want anyone to comment on his death, and we don’t want anyone to fire rockets that will lead to reactions and attacks on Gaza, and whoever was unable to remove the injustice from him in his lifetime, we won’t want him today.”

Palestinian sources told the Tazpit Press Service that Islamic Jihad is on high alert and a trip organized for new members of PIJ’s political bureau was cancelled. The terror group had threatened throughout Adnan’s hunger strike that it would hold Israel responsible for its member’s death.

Israeli prisons are on alert, amid concern that prisoners may riot.

Islamic groups in the Jerusalem and Ramallah areas also declared a general strike.

With reporting by JNS and TPS.

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