Overview

Khaled Mansour was the southern Gaza commander for Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). He was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza on August 6, 2022, during a three-day conflict between PIJ and Israel.Isabel Kershner, “Khaled Mansour, the slain militant commander, was behind a string of attacks, the Israeli military said.,” New York Times, August 7, 2022, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/07/world/middleeast/khaled-mansour-islamic-jihad.html.

Mansour was one of the founders of PIJ’s Al-Quds Brigades armed wing. He joined the precursor to the Al-Quds Brigades in 1989 as a teenager. During the second Palestinian intifada between 2000 and 2005, Mansour masterminded several of PIJ’s suicide bombings and helped the terror group develop its missile capabilities.Sakina Fatima, “Meet Khaled Mansour; man assassinated by Israel in Gaza Strip,” Siasat Daily, August 7, 2022, https://www.siasat.com/meet-khaled-mansour-man-assassinated-by-israel-in-gaza-strip-2385216/. In March 2010, Mansour allegedly orchestrated a firefight at the Gaza border that killed Israeli Major Eliraz Peretz and Staff Sergeant Ilan Sviatkovsky.Isabel Kershner, “Khaled Mansour, the slain militant commander, was behind a string of attacks, the Israeli military said.,” New York Times, August 7, 2022, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/07/world/middleeast/khaled-mansour-islamic-jihad.html; “Miriam Peretz says ‘difficult day’ as terrorist behind son’s death killed in Gaza op,” Times of Israel, August 7, 2022, https://www.timesofisrael.com/peretz-marks-difficult-day-as-terrorist-involved-in-sons-death-killed-in-gaza-op/. As Mansour’s exploits continued, he gained the trust of PIJ’s primary sponsor, Iran. In May 2016, Qasem Soleimani, the deceased commander of the Quds Force of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp (IRGC), named Mansour the Al-Quds Brigade’s general commander in Gaza.“Iran Allocates Yearly $70 Mln for Palestinian ‘Jihad,’” Asharq Al-Awsat (London), May 25, 2016, https://eng-archive.aawsat.com/theaawsat/news-middle-east/iran-allocates-yearly-70-mln-palestinian-jihad.

On August 5, 2022, Israel launched Operation Breaking Dawn, targeting PIJ military sites around Gaza. At least 10 people were killed, including Tayseer al-Jabari, PIJ’s northern Gaza commander. PIJ launched dozens of missiles toward Israeli civilian centers in response.Fares Akram and Joseph Krauss, “Israeli strikes on Gaza kill 8, including senior militant,” Associated Press, August 5, 2022, https://apnews.com/article/israel-strikes-gaza-rising-tensions-4539de5f30c605b3423d3472351cd638; “Islamic Jihad’s leader, currently in Tehran, vows: ‘We are going into battle,’” Times of Israel, August 5, 2022, https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/islamic-jihads-leader-currently-in-tehran-vows-we-are-going-into-battle/; Steve Hendrix, Hazem Balousha and Shira Rubin, “Israeli strikes in Gaza kill senior militant leader and at least 9 others,” Washington Post, August 5, 2022, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/08/05/israel-gaza-idf-strike/. On August 6, an Israeli strike killed Mansour in an apartment building in Rafah in southern Gaza. Mansour was reportedly in the apartment of another member of PIJ.“Ceasefire begins between Israel and Palestinian militants after 3-day conflict,” CBS News, August 8, 2022, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/israel-palestinians-ceasefire-gaza/. According to the Israeli military, Mansour was responsible for years’ worth of rocket and mortar strikes against Israel and was plotting an attack against Israel using anti-tank missiles and rockets. The strike reportedly also killed two other militants and five civilians. PIJ promised to retaliate for their deaths with more rocket strikes on Israel.Fares Akram and Tia Goldenberg, “Cease-fire between Palestinians, Israel takes effect in Gaza,” Associated Press, August 8, 2022, https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-israel-militant-groups-gaza-strip-0c1565488cc2dc03f80200edcdd49a56; Isabel Kershner, “Khaled Mansour, the slain militant commander, was behind a string of attacks, the Israeli military said.,” New York Times, August 7, 2022, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/07/world/middleeast/khaled-mansour-islamic-jihad.html. Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid called the pinpoint strike that killed Mansour an “extraordinary achievement.”“Ceasefire begins between Israel and Palestinian militants after 3-day conflict,” CBS News, August 8, 2022, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/israel-palestinians-ceasefire-gaza/. Mansour was buried in Gaza on August 7. According to Reuters’ video footage, thousands attended the funeral proceedings.“Ceasefire begins between Israel and Palestinian militants after 3-day conflict,” CBS News, August 8, 2022, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/israel-palestinians-ceasefire-gaza/; “Thousands attend funeral of Islamic Jihad commander,” Reuters, August 7, 2022, https://www.reuters.com/video/watch/thousands-attend-funeral-of-islamic-jiha-idOV707907082022RP1. Israel and PIJ declared a ceasefire later that night after PIJ had launched approximately 1,100 rockets into Israel and Israel launched 147 air strikes over three days.“Fresh Israel-Palestinian Islamic Jihad truce prevents ‘full-scale war,’” U.N. News, August 8, 2022, https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/08/1124212.