Interior security minister: Israel has given the IDF freedom to operate
Interior Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovich, a member of security cabinet said: "The situation in the south has become insufferable, we cannot allow over a million citizens be held hostage in bomb shelters."
According to him, Israel attempted to reach a cease fire deal with Hamas, but to no avail: "We attempted to send them a clear message, and the moment they were ignored by Hamas we stepped up our response.
"Hamas is responsible for bring back the calm," he said.
"The IDF has a free hand to operate, within a set of predefined steps. The political echelon has given the IDF everything it has requested."
