Cairo – Israel will not hesitate to launch a ground operation into Gaza to secure the Hamas-ruled Strip, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said on Sunday evening.
Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
His comments follow major escalation in the South which saw more than 80 rockets fired from Gaza into Israel in the last 24 hours.
According to Barak, “Hamas is responsible for the shooting at Israeli communities and attempts to harm our soldiers. Under my guidance, the IDF is currently examining all possibilities in the event of further Hamas violations.”
Barak added that Israel’s “upcoming elections will not be a source of immunity for Hamas.”
“If we have to re-renter Gaza to strike at Hamas we will not hesitate to do so,” Barak said.
President Shimon Peres also commented on the violence Sunday night, calling on the international community to stop the flow of money and resources to the Hamas terror organization, Israel Radio reported.
Peres highlighted the fact that Israel unilaterally vacated Gaza, down to the last soldier, in 2005 and therefore there is no logic behind Hamas’ attacks.
He concluded that Israel would respond to fire with fire, but said that if Hamas was willing to observe a ceasefire then so too would Israel.
Meanwhile, Israel Radio reported Sunday night that Egyptian officials were mediating between Israel and Hamas in an attempt to reach a ceasefire agreement.
Palestinian terrorists in Gaza pounded southern Israel with rockets on Sunday, injuring three people in Sderot.
The rocket-stricken town, which is too close to Gaza for the Iron Dome shield to protect it, came under heavy fire in the morning, as residents commuted to work.
One man was moderately injured when a rocket sent shrapnel flying through his vehicle as he drove to work. Two others were lightly injured.
A factory in Sderot also was directly hit by a rocket, although no injuries were reported.
The rocket attacks continued throughout the day in bursts, focusing mostly on the Eshkol and Sha’ar Hanegev Regional Councils, which are close to Gaza.
Terrorists fired two long-range rockets in the afternoon at Be’ersheva, triggering air raid sirens, and sending residents fleeing for cover. The Iron Dome system intercepted one of the rockets.
Two members of the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization were killed and seven Palestinians were injured in the bombings overnight.
A total of 6 Palestinians have been killed since the fighting began over the weekend.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu warned that Israel will escalate its responses to the rocket attacks.
Labor leader Shelly Yacimovich called for Defense Minister Ehud Barak to declare a special state of emergency in the south, in light of the rocket fire.
Yacimovich said the government must act in the military and diplomatic areas.
“Decisive action is necessary in the international arena in order to put pressure on those who are shooting at us and end this intolerable situation,” the Labor leader stated. “It is obvious that Hamas is intensifying its actions and it is our job to deal with the problem decisively and with all the tools we have.”
Yacimovich also called on the government to pass a bill she proposed ensuring residents of the South are paid damages for days they cannot go to work because of rockets.
Home Front Command Minister Avi Dichter said that Israel must restore its military deterrence against Gaza, saying that “this is an unbearable and unreasonable situation. Israel cannot accept a daily terrorist drizzle from Gaza.”
Overnight Saturday, the IDF struck a total of seven targets, including a weapons production site, two weapons storage sites, and two open areas used to fire rockets in the north of the Strip.
Additionally, two error targets were struck in southern Gaza.
On Saturday, Palestinians fired 25 rockets at southern Israel, triggering air raid sirens in Ashkelon, Ashdod, Gan Yavne and smaller communities. At least eight long-range rockets were included in the barrage, one of which landed north of Ashdod.
The Iron Dome anti-rocket system intercepted at least one rocket headed for Ashdod.
On Sunday evening, a heavy barrage of 20 rockets struck in villages and towns near Gaza. A home in Sderot sustained a direct hit, leading some to suffer shock, though no injuries were reported.
The rocket heavily damaged the home. A home in the Eshkol Regional Council was also damaged.
The violence was renewed when Islamic Jihad terrorists fired an anti-tank missile at an IDF Jeep carrying out a routine patrol on the Israeli side of the border on Saturday, striking the vehicle directly and injuring four soldiers.
One soldier was in serious condition with a head injury.
Content is provided courtesy of the Jerusalem Post
He who comes to kill you, kill him first!
A rocket for a rocket … BUT WE WONT MISS!
Israel should react and only talk afterwards – the Arabs have come to expect almost no reaction or a couple of targeted responses. THERE WERE OVER 100 ROCKETS ON THE WEEKEND – TIME TO GIVE THEM WHAT TO COWER ABOUT!!!!!
Enough with these ceasefire’s!! Israel should just destroy that place!!! Or for a change throw out all those Arabs and give the land back to those who were thrown out of there houses when Israel conceded their property-and it sure is theirs-to them in the name of peace!! No country would ever tolerate such violence against there fellow citizens, so why expect from Israel to cease any fire?!! All you liberals out there bashing Israel when it’s defending herself, listen closely: GET THE HELL OUT OF OUR UNIVERSE!!!