Southern Command chief, Major-General Yoav Galant, said Thursday that the IDF will respond to this morning’s foiled terror attack at the Erez crossing.
“Our citizens’ blood will not be forfeited. Our offensive policy will continue, and we'll soon decide how, where and with which scale to respond. We have no perfect answer to the firing of Qassam rockets, but our actions are effective,” Galant said, noting the improved precision capability of the Palestinians.
We will not be dragged into this ping pong game with the Palestinians, Galant added. "There won't be a response to each rocket attack, but we'll operate according to our will," he said.
'Palestinians can choose path of hope'
The Southern Command chief further stated that ever since the disengagement, the IDF had killed 52 terrorists, out of which 28 were killed on the security fence separating Gaza and Israel.
Galant stressed there was no intention to keep the Erez crossing closed, and said it will be reopened in the next few days. "Most of the day laborers passing through the crossing are not terrorists," he said.
Responding to Wednesday's Qassam attack on Ashkelon, and consequent demands in the army to "black out the Gaza strip," Galant said Israel will not damage the Palestinian electric system and create power shutdowns in the strip.
"Following our withdrawal from Gaza, the Palestinians were given the opportunity to choose a new path instead of fighting. I hope they will choose the route of hope, instead of that of war and terror," he stated.