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Escalation?
Photo: George Ginsberg

Minister: Hamas will pay heavy price

Forum of top eight government ministers meets to discuss possible escalation in response to Gaza rocket attacks

Israel preparing to escalate its response: Internal Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch said Saturday night he blamed Hamas for the lastest rocket offensive on southern Israel, vowing a tough response to the growing violence.

 

"Hamas is responsible; it's the master of the house," Aharonovitch said while touring the site of Saturday's deadly rocket attack in Beersheba. "The heavy responsibility lies with Hamas and it will pay a heavy price."

 

Ynetnews coverage of escalation in south:

 

The forum of top eight government ministers was set to meet Saturday night to discuss escalating Israel's response to the rocket fire from Gaza. During the deliberations the ministers will discuss all options, including a ground operation in the Strip and increasing the pace of assassinations of terror group leaders.

 

Car hit in Beersheba (Photo: Ohad Tzoigenberg)
Car hit in Beersheba (Photo: Ohad Tzoigenberg)

 

"The minute Hamas took responsibility, it invited an escalation from our side as well," a government source said ahead of the meeting.

 

The rocket fire towards the south reached its current peak Saturday night with several salvos aimed at Beersheba. One of the Grad rockets hit a home, leaving one man dead and one woman mortally wounded.

 

Earlier in Ofakim, a rocket hit an empty house; a baby and young boy who were nearby were mildly wounded by shrapnel.

 

For the first time in this cycle of rocket barrages, Hamas' Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades took responsibility for the rocket fire. Friday night the group announced that the "calm with Israel was over."

 

Ilana Curiel contributed to the report

 

 

 

 

 


פרסום ראשון: 08.20.11, 23:43
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