The Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement at the conclusion of a security situation assessment conducted on Thursday evening by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“The Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense praised the IDF and the Shin Bet for the achievements during Operation Shield and Arrow and instructed them to continue to exact a heavy price from the Islamic Jihad for its aggression against the citizens of Israel. The campaign will continue as long as necessary.”
Earlier, a senior diplomatic official commented on the continued rocket fire from the Gaza Strip and the direct hit in Rehovot which resulted in the death of one person, and said that these rocket attacks make the possibility of a ceasefire much more distant.
“If the firing at Israel continues, the attacks in the Gaza Strip will continue, including the continuation of the countermeasures and the exacting of another heavy price from the Islamic Jihad. Fire will be answered with fire,” said the official.
He noted that “in the last day, despite Egypt’s efforts to bring about a ceasefire, the Islamic Jihad launched a barrage of rockets at Israel. In response, a fourth significant senior official in the Islamic Jihad was eliminated, and the organization continued to suffer severe damage.”
“The equation has changed: Israel will exact a price for directing terrorism from the Gaza Strip to Judea and Samaria. The IDF is prepared to continue to protect the citizens of Israel with strength, and at the same time, attacks terrorist targets and is ready for any scenario,” he added.