Cabinet member and Minister of Jerusalem Affairs Ze'ev Elkin called Tuesday morning on Israel to deliver “an extremely severe response” to the Hamas terror group, after over 25 mortar shells were fired into Israeli territory from Gaza .
“Someone in Gaza is testing us and I think that the defense minister and the IDF are expected to take a significant decision about an extremely severe response,” Elkin said.
No one was injured in the continuous barrage which began at 6:59am, triggering 24 consecutive Code Red alert sirens to blare throughout the region, and local residents were told shortly after they could leave their bomb shelters and return to normality. One of the rockets, however, landed in a kindergarten yard.
“I don’t think I need to broadcast here what our targets are. We have suffered from this disease in recent years of holding live military discussions, including tactics, and sharing with the public and the media,” Elkin said when asked to elaborate on specific details and on what the ideal response would entail.
“It causes tremendous damage to our security because in practice, we are supplying information about the various possibilities that we have,” he added. “What always speaks in the end in the Middle East is always what you do and not only what you say. In the Middle East, people respect those who know when to deliver a retaliatory blow, a painful blow, so that they respect you.”
Despite evidence pointing to the conclusion that the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) is responsible for the latest barrage of projectiles as a revenge attack for the IDF’s Saturday attack against Hamas posts in Gaza, which claimed the lives of three PIJ members, Elkin said that Hamas ultimately bears responsibility as the ruling power in Gaza.
“Hamas is the one that should pay the heavy price. It doesn’t matter who fired. The responsible body in the strip is first and foremost Hamas.”
Education Minister and Bayit Yehudi leader Naftali Bennett issued his response in English, taking aim at people who have heaped criticism on Israel for its response to the violence erupting in Gaza.
“For the sake of Israel’s armchair critics, here’s an official update this morning from the local Israeli municipality neighboring Gaza Strip: A rocket (from Gaza) hit a kindergarten. No children were there at the time. Studies will take place as usual today. Now preach to us,” he wrote on Twitter.