Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, during an interview with Kan Reshet Bet Radio Thursday morning, called to halt the operation in the Gaza Strip. “The operation is justified. A few days ago, they fired hundreds of rockets, and to repair deterrence, we must respond. There are no political gains that Israel needs at the moment from this operation. The operation had nice results, and we must stop now.”
Regarding next week’s Jerusalem Day Flag March, Lapid stated: “The state of Israel doesn’t ask the terror organizations permission to march with flags. I hope that the Prime Minister and Defense Minister keep watch to ensure the National Security Minister doesn’t mess things up on purpose.”

Earlier Thursday morning, the IDF eliminated Ali Ghali, the commander of the rocket launching force of the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip. During the attack, two additional terrorists were also eliminated.
According to the IDF, Ghali was entrusted with the instruction and the launching of rocket fire toward Israel, including the recent barrage of rockets toward Israeli territory as part of operation “Shield and Arrow”. Ghali instructed and took part in launching the barrage of rockets toward Israel during operations “Guardian of the Walls” and “Breaking Dawn”.