Is another conflict in Gaza coming? Israeli tank. Illustrative. By Joshua Spurlock
After rockets were fired at Israel from Gaza on back-to-back nights over the weekend and terrorists tried to infiltrate Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Sunday they would do what was necessary to defend Israel in spite of upcoming elections—even a “wide-ranging” military campaign in Gaza. “I have heard talk to the effect that I have refrained from embarking on a wide-ranging operation based on electoral considerations. This is incorrect,” said the Israeli leader in comments released by his office. “…If it proves necessary, we will embark on a wide-ranging campaign regardless of the elections. With or without the elections, we will do what is necessary for the security of Israel.”
Netanyahu’s comments included congratulations to the IDF for taking down five Gaza terrorists the IDF Twitter feed said were “attempting to infiltrate” Israel. The Tweet on Sunday said that the previous night, the IDF soldiers monitoring the security fence with Gaza spotted the terrorists armed with rifles. In roughly 30 seconds, “our troops had already arrived at the scene in order to stop the terrorists,” said the post.
The failed infiltration effort was in addition to at least four rockets fired at Israel, three of which were intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome, according to posts on the IDF Twitter page. Israel responded with strikes on Gaza terror targets, but the IDF Twitter feed made it clear the sides were not attacking the same type of target.
Following the first night of attacks, the IDF tweeted, “The rocket was intercepted by the Iron Dome before it could reach its target: Israeli civilians. We just responded with strikes on Hamas’ underground infrastructure in Gaza. Israel’s target: Terror.”
Israeli Prime Minister’s Office Spokesman Ofir Gendelman noted in a Twitter post of his own that the Gaza rocket was launched at an Israeli city of 25,000 residents. Regarding Israel’s retaliatory strike on Hamas terror structures, Gendelman tweeted, “It doesn’t pay to attack Israel.”
The latest round of rocket attacks from Gaza are part of a years-old conflict that has involved multiple Israeli wars with Gaza in an effort to restore peace and security.
On Sunday, Netanyahu made it clear they are still aiming for that goal. “My mission is to maintain security and quiet, and we are taking all requisite actions… The other side feels the might of our arm very well.”
(By Joshua Spurlock, www.themideastupdate.com, August 18, 2019)