On 9 May 2023, Israel conducted a series of airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, called Operation NAME_1 and NAME_2 (Hebrew: מבצע מגן וחץ) that lasted until 13 May. This operation was started when the Israeli military killed three suspected leaders of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) movement in a targeted assassination.[6] 10 civilians were also killed. The surprise attack came a week after the death of hunger striker NAME_3—who had been linked to PIJ—in an Israeli jail,[7] leading to a day of rocket attacks from Gaza that Israel blamed on PIJ before a ceasefire was agreed.[8][9]

Later on 9 May, two Palestinians were killed during an airstrike against a vehicle in Khan Yunis.[10] Israeli airstrikes on Gaza continued on 10 May, killing six more Palestinians. Militants launched hundreds of rockets into Israel, over 938 according to the IDF, in what Palestinian militants called Operation Revenge of the Free (Arabic: عملية ثأر الأحرار).[11][12][13][14] The PFLP claimed 4 of those killed on 10 May.[1] On 11 May, two more PIJ commanders were killed during airstrikes, while the death toll from the previous raids increased to at least 26.[15] Rockets and airstrikes continued on 12 May while efforts continue towards a ceasefire.[5] Another PIJ senior leader and his aide were killed bringing total deaths to 34 Palestinians (including one in Israel), and 1 Israeli.

What happened in operation NAME_1 and NAME_2?