Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman on Monday morning, 2 Elul, visited the Gaza Division, conducting a situation evaluation; accompanied by IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-General Gadi Eizenkott, the Southern District Commander and senior officers and Shin Bet representatives.

The senior cabinet minister stated, “First of all, I want to express my appreciation to the commanders and soldiers who are determined and full of the battle spirit, and who are doing holy work for the safety of the citizens of Israel.”

Lieberman then commented on the blow sustained by Hamas by Israel’s targeted strikes last week, explaining “Hamas has absorbed 168 dead, 4,348 wounded and dozens of terror infrastructures destroyed”, adding “the question of the next round of fighting is not if but when.”

“We maintain a responsible and powerful security policy,” Lieberman added. “A responsible security policy is not an answer, not to talkbacks, not the newspaper headlines and not to public opinion. We are prepared and know what to do and how to do it” he concluded.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)