The defense establishment is preparing to escalate its response against Hamas and the other terror organizations in Gaza following some of the worst rocket salvos on southern Israel since Operation Cast Lead.
Defense establishment officials fear that the extent of rocket attacks from Gaza will increase Sunday. Due to the situation, the National Emergency Management Authority storage facilities will be opened in the morning.
While the government’s eight top ministers were holding a meeting into the night to discuss retaliation options, Israel Defense Forces officials said terror organization must suffer a heavy blow.
“We must restore deterrence, make it perfectly clear to the other side that it will pay a heavy price for hurting Israel’s citizens,” said a senior military source.
The IDF recently completed the preparation of different plans of action against Hamas and the rest of the terror organizations in the Strip – from surgical strike to a wide-scale operation.
Security sources say a variety of options for action were raised during weekend discussions, all focusing on the desire to boost Israel’s response.
“There’s no escape. We can’t ignore rockets fired at a civilian population,” one of the officials stressed.
According to estimates, the first stage will see the Israel Air Force increase its air strikes in the Strip. The IDF possesses a wide “bank” of targets, and it’s quite possible that during the current round, especially in light of Hamas’ growing involvement in the rocket fire, the army will hit targets it has avoided attacking so far.
Targeting the leaders of Hamas and the other terror organizations is also on the agenda, and may be the second stage of the Israeli response.
Military sources have admitted that this is a complicated period in light of the developments expected next month upon the Palestinian statehood declaration, and therefore “all considerations must be examined” before every operation.
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
One Response
The halachah is clear if someone wants to kill you, you have the the right to kill them first. Carpet bomb the gaza strip and help them all achieve their goal of martyrdom.
Don’t stop there though you have the west bank and the lebonize boarder also.