Maj.-Gen. Tal Russo
Photo: Eliad Levy
IDF commander: Hamas internally split
Gaza leaders want lull while military wing targeting civilians, says GOC Southern Command
Hamas's leadership wants a lull in violence but its military wing is eager to attack Israeli civilians, GOC Southern Command, Major-General Tal Russo said Wednesday. "The tail is wagging the dog," he added.
Russo analyzed the tense calm that has pervaded Israel's southern region since an anti-tank missile was fired from Gaza at a school bus, wounding a 16-year old boy critically and spawning retaliation from the IDF, which bombed the Strip over the weekend.
"This incident was serious and began the final round, as our goal is that the residents of the south live normal lives. We did not engage in full power, but operated with collaboration between forces in the air, sea, and ground and hurt Hamas severely," he said.
"In the end the tail wags the dog. The political leadership wants a lull while the military tries to harm civilians. The gap between the two is immense," Russo said, adding that the IDF was "prepared for any contingency".
In a meeting with Russo, the head of Shaar Hanegev Regional Council, Alon Schuster, demanded that "the defense establishment respond". He added that "we will continue to live here".
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