"The IDF has drastically changed the unbearable reality in Israeli communities surrounding the Gaza Strip," Defense Minister Ehud Barak said
Wednesday at an officers' course graduation ceremony in Haifa.
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According to Barak, the three-week offensive
in the Hamas-controlled territory "created the conditions for a fundamental change in the security situation that existed in Sderot and the Gaza-vicinity communities over the past eight years.
"This outstanding operation has increased Israel's deterrence in the entire region; the IDF's clear victory was the result of meticulous planning and skilled execution," he said.
The defense minister added that Hamas was responsible for the civilian casualties that occurred in Gaza during the military operation there.
"Hamas chose the battlefield and acted from within crowded neighborhoods, schools, and hospitals," he said.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi
told the ceremony that the operation's goals, including hurting Hamas' rocket-launching capabilities and increasing Israel's deterrence, had been met in full.
"Even now, after the ceasefire, the army is prepared to respond with all the means at its disposal," he said. "We've shown that those why try to (attack) are dealt a severe blow."
Also Wednesday, Southern Command Chief Maj.-Gen. Yoav Galant said during a meeting with IDF reservists who took part in the three-week offensive that "nearly all of the weapons caches, tunnels and terrorists' homes in Gaza were hit,"
Galant, who commanded over the operation, added "we assume the other side (Hamas) now realizes that launching missiles is not in its best interest, but we are preparing to defeat Hamas if necessary."
Hanan Greenberg contributed to the report
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