The IDF is changing policy in the south, and after four days in which roads in the Gaza Strip were blocked, and residents were told to stay in their homes, the Air Force attacked targets in the Gaza Strip today (Friday) at noon, thus switching from a defensive to an active attack. Iron Dome batteries were deployed across the country for fear of missile attacks.
Earlier today, Defense Minister Gantz held a briefing with the heads of the authorities in the region and with the Chief of Staff, the head of the Shin Bet and the commanding general.
He warned: "We will not hesitate to go into battle if we have to, the time of the terrorists who are preparing to harm us is limited."
The fourth day of blockades in the Gaza Strip, for fear of escalation // Photo: Yaniv Zohar
He also said: "To our enemies in general and to the heads of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, I say explicitly - your time is limited. The threat will be removed one way or another. The situation in which irresponsible terrorists, some of whom are not in the region at all, took the residents of Gaza hostage will return and harm them.
Defense Minister assessing the situation in the south: "The threat will be removed one way or another" // Photo: Yaniv Zohar
"Whoever robs the livelihood of 14,000 workers, causes agricultural goods to rot in the crossings, and causes a shortage of electricity and food - first of all harms the residents of Gaza and he will bear the responsibility. The IDF, the Shin Bet and the security forces are all preparing for any action that may be required, on any front from the south, the center and the north. We will continue the operational activity in all sectors, as much as is requested."
Among other things, Gantz was asked what kind of security threat it was.
"As mentioned, there are threats and we see terrorist preparations to harm the citizens of the State of Israel and the defensive actions we took were all aimed at preventing harm to civilians."
The Minister of Defense addressed the question of whether it was a mistake not to respond immediately to the threat. "
We use force according to our considerations and this is not the place to detail the nature of the considerations themselves. I will tell you what will happen in another month, another year, and two more years, and that is what is important to remember in the long view. The south has developed, is developing and will continue to develop in the face of every difficulty, threat and security activity.
"I repeat - I do not underestimate the feelings of people in this unpleasant situation. The ability to grow up and raise children under military threat is not self-evident, and deserves all appreciation. In recent years, all the settlements surrounding Ashkelon, Sderot, the kibbutzim, the Moshavim have seen tremendous development. This is the real victory And we intend to continue to allow that."
Shaked: "I very much hope that this situation will end and soon"
Meanwhile, the Minister of the Interior, Ayelet Shaked, held a meeting today with heads of authorities in the Gaza Strip following the security incidents and discussed with them the emergency situation in the Strip.
"I'm after a meeting with all the heads of the authorities in Otef to see what the state can do at this time," Shaked said.
"Among other things, it is certainly necessary to compensate those who were harmed, such as farmers who cannot cultivate the fields next to the fence. I very much hope that this situation will end and soon, because the ones who should be afraid are the terrorists in Gaza and not the residents of Otef."
Participated in the preparation of the article: Ilya Yegorov and Yuri Yalon
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