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Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, speaking at the opening of a medical school in Safed on Sunday, reiterated the Israeli government’s policy of strict retaliation against those that harm Israelis, warning Hamas not to test Israel.
It’s important to remember, Netanyahu continued, "that Hamas is the ruling power in Gaza, and it is [the organization’s] responsibility to preserving the quiet and to prevent [rocket] fire" from the Strip," even if those launching the rockets are from Islamic Jihad.
"It’s not worthwhile for anybody to test our resolve" to invoke the government’s defenseprinciples. "We will prevent every attempt to shoot at Israel and we will hurt everyone who nevertheless succeeds" at launching rockets.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak also warned Islamic Jihad and Hamas leaders "not to test our abilities," following a meeting with security and intelligence chiefs on Sunday.
During the meeting, Barak examined plans for continued IDF operations in the GazaStrip to stop the rocket attacks on Israel. The defense minister added that "we will do everything to protect the citizens of Israel."
Also speaking at the medical school in Safed, President Shimon Peres said "the government and the IDF will do everything necessary in order to secure residents of the South and to put an end to this intolerable situation."
Any country would respond as Israel does to indiscriminate rocket fire on its citizens, he added.
In a message to "our Arab neighbors," the president said, "neither we nor you want war, but [the] rockets from Gaza are [a borderline] declaration of war. Reckless groups cannot be allowed to endanger our peace."
Saying that Hamas "While the majority of Arabs are trying to end oppression and poverty," Peres said, "Hamas is bringing oppression and poverty to the Gaza Strip."