Prime Minister Netanyahu ordered Israel’s defense establishment to take “firm measures against terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip” following the attack on IDF forces in Rafah on Sunday morning, his office said.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Netanyahu issued the directive during a meeting with Defense Minister Israel Katz and the heads of Shin Bet and Mossad, after Palestinian militants fired RPGs and sniper fire at Israeli soldiers operating in southern Gaza.
Katz said that he had instructed the Israeli army to “act forcefully against Hamas’ terrorist targets in Gaza,” warning that “Hamas will learn today the hard way that the Israeli army is determined to protect its soldiers and prevent any harm to them.”
The Minister of Defense added, “Hamas will pay a heavy price for any shooting and violation of the ceasefire, and if the message is not understood, the responses will intensify.”
A military source said that more than 20 targets had been struck in Gaza since the Rafah attack. The Israeli army described the raids as a response to direct fire on its forces, and said that operations in the area were continuing.
Hamas denied responsibility, stressing that its fighters in Rafah were acting independently. Hamas said in a statement: “We are committed to a ceasefire in all areas of the Gaza Strip,” claiming that it “has nothing to do” with the incident and that communications with the Rafah area have been cut off “since last March.”
(Global Headquarters – New York City)