Netanyahu threatens: "If necessary, we will expand the operation against Hamas in Gaza as well""

July 1, 2014   

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a joint statement this evening (Tuesday) with Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon and Chief of Staff Benny Gantz, in which he addressed Israel's continued action against Hamas following the murder of the three teenagers, who were buried this evening in the Modi'in cemetery.

""Tonight we brought our sons to the grave of Israel - Naftali, Gil-Ad and Eyal, may God avenge their blood. The entire nation supports the families and the entire nation is united in our fight against murderous terror. We are fighting it with determination and firmness," said Netanyahu, detailing the three tasks that, according to him, now face the IDF and the security forces.

 ""First, to reach the murderers and everyone who participated in the kidnapping. Everyone who was involved in the kidnapping and murder – their blood is on their heads. We will not be silent or let up until we reach the last of them, and it doesn't matter where they try to hide. We will reach everyone even if it takes time. This is our first mission – and it will be accomplished.".

Second, we must strongly target Hamas' people and infrastructure in Judea and Samaria. We have already arrested hundreds of Hamas operatives, closed dozens of its institutions, destroyed homes, and more is on the way.

Our third mission is to act against the Hamas organization in the Gaza Strip. Hamas continues to encourage the kidnapping of our citizens these days and is directly responsible for firing rockets and mortars into our territories, including in recent hours. The IDF has been operating in recent days against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip, and here too our hand is outstretched. If necessary, we will expand the campaign as much as necessary.

Anyone who thinks they will achieve something through terrorism against us will continue to deceive themselves and achieve the opposite results.

החמאס אחראי,  החמאס משלם, החמאס ימשיך לשלם.  אנחנו פועלים בנחישות, בתבונה ובאחריות כשהשיקול העליון - שעומד לנגד עיני ונגד עיני שר הביטחון והרמטכ"ל - הוא הבטחת ביטחונם של אזרחי ישראל". שר הביטחון משה יעלון המשיך באותו הקו ואמר כי ישראל מוסיפה לפגוע בחמאס, ששם למטרה לפגוע בישראלים רק משום שהם ישראלים. "נרדוף את פעילי חמאס עד שנשים עליהם את היד. נפגע באנשיו בכל עת ובכל מקום, והארגון ישלם מחיר כבד על מעשיו", אמר. עם זאת, הוא הבהיר כי הפעולה הנדרשת תהיה מחושבת. "זו העת לנהוג בתבונה, לחשוב מהראש ולא מהבטן, ובעיקר יש לסמוך על צה"ל ושירותי הביטחון". בשעה 22:00 תתכנס ישיבה מיוחדת של הקבינט המדיני-ביטחוני בבסיס הקריה שבתל אביב. הדיון צפוי להתמקד בהחלטה מדינית – להרחיב את הבנייה בהתנחלויות או לפעול צבאית נגד חמאס בתגובה לפיגוע.