Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai (Labor) said Monday that Hamas has turned the Gaza Strip into a problematic abscess.
"Gaza is like an abscess – a problematic boil. Until they understand what to do in Gaza, nothing will move forward here," said Vilnai while touring the Eshkol Regional Council in southern Israel on Monday. "Instead of taking care of its people, Hamas is trying to conquer Jerusalem."
Vilnai said that the Defense Ministry is working vigorously in order to combat the security threats from Israel’s border with Gaza.
"The IDF is working hard to deal with this issue. I’m not waiting for a disaster to occur," said Vilnai, who went on to express support for the regional councils’ push to better secure all Israeli towns that are seven kilometers away from the border with Gaza.
Tensions along the Israel-Gaza border have escalated this month, marked with a surge of violence and exchange of fire between IDF forces and Gaza militants. This is despite declarations by both Israel and Hamas that they do not want another escalation.
On Sunday, IDF forces killed two Palestinian militants who were attempting to lay explosives on the Gaza border.
The Islamic Jihad militant group said two of its gunmen were killed by Israeli fire after they detonated an explosive device against a passing Israeli patrol on the southern border.
An IDF spokeswoman said the troops, later backed up by helicopters, confirmed hitting the militants who had tried to attack them.
"Hamas is responsible for whatever happens in Gaza," the IDF said in its statement, reiterating Israel’s position that the leaders of the coastal territory must maintain calm in the Strip.
This latest incident comes on the heels of a Hamas press conference held on Saturday, when the armed wing of the group warned Israel against launching any new military action in the strip.
Ahmed al-Jabari, leader of the Izz a-din al-Qassam Brigades, said that Israel had two options – to leave Palestine or face death.
439