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Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu indicated little confidence Sunday in the durability of the cease fire with Hamas, telling pilots who took part in Operation Pillar of Defense they could go now prepare for the next campaign, and reservists that they would likely be needed again later.
Netanyahu, who visited the Palmachim air base, told the pilots that they accurately carried out the missions set out for them. "If the quiet is kept, you can continue preparing for the next campaign," he said.
But if the quiet was violated, he warned, "you will go back to hitting what remains of the Hamas stockpile of weapons." Netanyahu said that the IDF destroyed most of the missiles in Gaza directed toward the center of the country, and thousands of missiles that were directed toward the south.
"The minute the operation accomplished its goal, there was no reason to continue it," said Netanyahu, who has come under fire from parts of the public for not continuing with a ground offensive into Gaza to topple Hamas. "We decided when it would start and controlled when it would end.
Netanyahu said that if the quiet of the last few days continued, Israel would also remain quiet. But, he warned, if Hamas violated the cease-fire Israel would react strongly.
Netanyahu said he "saluted" the country\’s reservists who mobilized when asked. "It is possible we will need you later," he said.
Netanyahu was joined on his visit to the air base by Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz, and IAF commander Maj.-Gen. Amir Eshel.