PM Netanyahu
Photo: AFP
Security-Cabinet convenes, rejects retaking Gaza option
Members unanimously rally behind decision taken by PM Netanyahu and Defense Minister Lieberman to conclude the latest military confrontation with Gaza; 'Anyone who tries to harm us will pay heavy price.'
Israel's Security Cabinet convened Wednesday evening at the IDF's Kirya headquarters in Tel Aviv to discuss the latest round of violence with the Gaza Strip after the Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad fired a barrage of rockets at Israel throughout the day, triggering retaliatory air strikes.
Despite calls
on Tuesday by Minister of Justice Ayelet Shaked and Minister of Energy and Water Resources Yuval Steinitz for the IDF to retake the Gaza Strip by force if the incessant rocket fire from continues in order to rid it of the terror groups holding it hostage, not a single member of the Security-Cabinet recommended such a move.
Members rallied behind a decision by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman to swiftly conclude the latest confrontation, the largest to have occurred since Operation Protective Edge in 2014.
(Photo: Barel Efraim)
“The heavy blow has sent them a message to them that if they continue, we will attack them with a lot greater strength,” said one senior official, echoing statements made earlier by Netanyahu at a ceremony in Tel Aviv.
During the talks, members discussed the high price that a retaking of the Gaza Strip would entail but also agreed that Israel could topple the Hamas terror group from government if it wanted.
(Photo: Barel Efraim)
While the Cabinet members also agreed that the latest round of violence had ended, concerns were raised about sporadic rocket and mortar fire into south Israel.
Another consensus in the meeting was that the severity of Israel’s response, which continued from Tuesday afternoon into the night, had dissuaded Hamas or Islamic Jihad from continuing their assault on Israel’s southern towns, combined with pressure from Egypt, which reportedly acted as a broker in what the Gaza groups said was a ceasefire but which Israel has hitherto denied.
(Photo: Police spokesmanship)
While Israel refrained from employing words such as “ceasefire”, it has said that it is willing to maintain quiet on the southern border if Gaza desists from resuming hostilities.
A statement was distributed following the Security-Cabinet meeting summarizing Israel’s policy and conclusions.
“Israel’s policy is clear: Anyone who tries to harm us will immediately pay a heavy price. Hamas suffered the most serious blow in years. Dozens of quality targets were attacked. Moreover, the majority of rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome or they fell in open space,” the statement said.
“We are not interested in an escalation but we maintain our preparedness for any scenario. If the fire resumes, the attacks will be even heavier,” it warned. “We will continue to act with determination to protect the citizens of Israel and to prevent terror attacks.”
The statement went on to hold Hamas responsible for all attack emanating from the strip. “Hamas carries complete responsibility for terror attacks from the Gaza Strip—gunfire, rockets, mortars, terror tunnels, attempts to breach the border fence, damage to the fence, incendiary kites and more,” it said.
“Hamas and the Islamic Jihad are inspired and funded by Iran,” the statement argued. “Just as we are operating with determination in the north, we will also operate in the south.”
