Israeli military warns of new military offensive in Gaza

[News_Editor]

Israeli military warns of new military offensive in Gaza

2011-11-16 17:19:54 GMT+7 (ICT)

JERUSALEM (BNO NEWS) -- Israel's military chief of staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz on Tuesday warned that a new, large-scale military operation against Gaza is increasingly likely amid continuing rocket attacks by Palestinian militants.

Gantz made the statement on Tuesday during a closed meeting of Parliament's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. A summary of his assessment and remarks was released by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Wednesday morning.

"Our deterrence over Hamas is still high but we cannot continue with one round after another," the General told the Committee. "We have to go into action operationally, it is approaching. But we will not be provoked to do so; it will be premeditated and organized."

Although any large-scale operation against Gaza would have to be authorized by the government, Gantz' remarks and assessment of the situation are an important indicator that Israel is expecting another armed conflict against Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip.

"For the next clash we will need to shorten the duration of the fighting as much as possible," Gantz explained. "The speed must depend on high quality intelligence and a fast pace of operational activity, which is why we must maintain readiness and preserve the human resources in the IDF. Without it, we might affect the progress we've made in the past four years."

In the winter of 2008-2009, Israel launched a surprise attack on the Gaza Strip which marked the beginning of a three-week military conflict between Israel and Hamas, killing nearly 1,500 people and leaving thousands more injured and displaced. Israel stated its aim was to stop rocket fire from and arms import into Gaza.

However, while most rockets cause no damage or casualties, the attacks from Gaza have continued. This year alone, Palestinian militants have fired more than 600 rockets and mortar shells into southern Israel, according to IDF figures. In late October, a 56-year-old Israeli man was killed when he was hit by shrapnel from a Grad rocket which hit his car.

Israeli aircraft frequently carry out airstrikes in the Gaza Strip in response to those attacks. On early Monday morning, a Hamas police officer was killed and four people were injured when the Israeli Air Force struck a building in the al-Sudaniya area in the northern Gaza Strip.

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