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Israel may soon launch a wide-scale military operation in the Gaza Strip, Israel Minister of Public Security, Strategic Affairs and Minister of Information Gilad Erdan said on June 21, according to the Israeli media.
“There is a great chance that we will have to embark on a military operation in order to create long-term deterrence. There may be no other choice, and we would have to enter into a large-scale operation in the Gaza Strip – as early as the next few months,” Erdan told Army Radio.
Erdan’s remarks come amid sky-hight tensions between Palestinian armed groups (mainly Hamas) and the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in the Gaza Strip. On June 20, the sides exchanged strikes. The IDF carried out strikes on at least 22 targets in Gaza. In turn, Hamas launched about 45 rockets and shells at Israeli targets.
The Israeli media is actively speculating that the IDF IDF is preparing for a a large-scale operation in the Gaza Strip. These preparations allegedly include deployment of additional Iron Dome systems in the area.
On June 20, Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman visited the Bahad 1 military base where here threatened Hamas in a statement.
“Regarding whatever happened yesterday, I have only three words to say to Hamas – it was [a] mistake,” Lieberman said during the graduation ceremony of an IDF officers’ training course.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri responded to Lieberman’s comments.
“Tell Liberman in three words: Do not misunderstand our patience,” Zuhri tweeted in Arabic on June 20 afternoon.
The crisis over Gaza is developing.
