“For now we are concentrating on neutralizing the offensive activity of Hamas, but we have prepared a multiple scenario in case the situation changes quickly. It can change from hour to hour. Militarily we are ready. Every decision will be taken at the political level ”. Captain Libby Weiss, spokesman for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), speaks from Petah Tikva, a suburb 20 kilometers east of Tel Aviv. It shows a multi-storey building gutted by Hamas rockets from Gaza, which fell at 2 am on Wednesday, which “forced civilians from surrounding buildings to evacuate and hide in shelters. There were seven injured ». The Israeli military authorities extended until Saturday evening the emergency restrictions imposed in the areas under fire from the “rockets”, in the southern and central areas of Israel, including the metropolitan area of Tel Aviv. Schools remain closed and outdoor gatherings of more than 10 people are prohibited. A maximum of 100 people can stay indoors and workplaces can only stay open if there is a missile shelter nearby. «We hit strategic Hamas targets. We warn the Palestinian population to move away from their homes, we try to minimize the impact, civilians are not in our targets », continues Weiss, during a press briefing. And he adds: “Many civilians are used as a shield by Hamas to hide war material or to base operations centers in half of the buildings inhabited by the population.”
Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz has decided to recall another 9,000 reservists. The total of those recalled reaches 16 thousand. Troops are amassing on the border with the Strip to prepare for a potential ground operation. “We are gathering forces on the Gaza border, preparing them. We are studying the field and will use them when we decide to do so. Tanks, armored vehicles and artillery are ready for this option for mobilization at any time ”, explains Brigadier General, spokesman for the armed forces, Hidai Zilberman. About “600 rockets hit homes directly,” said spokeswoman Weiss, stressing that the Iron Dome missile protection system intercepts “about 90 percent” of the more than 1,500 rockets launched, “it doesn’t work miracles, it doesn’t block 100 %, but it is saving many lives ». On the contrary, the officer continued, “Israeli raids on Gaza hit structures used as depots and to carry out training activities”.
On the danger of an internal Intifada in the mixed cities, inhabited by Arabs and Israelis, the Israeli ambassador to Rome, Dror Eydar, explains that “the internal situation is the result of a long incitement by terrorist organizations and also by the ‘Palestinian National Authority, to break the good connections between Arabs and Israelis in our country ”.