ISRAEL WANTS TO LIVE IN GAZA

ISRAEL WANTS TO LIVE IN GAZA"

Herzi Halevi, Chief of Staff, IDF

"In this campaign, we are making a very clear statement to the entire region - the State of Israel wants to live here. Whoever deals with us in this way, even when something difficult happens, our answers are very sharp, very strong, very determined.

Today, we also experienced terrorism in Ra'anana; look, it draws inspiration from things in Gaza. And look at the cruelty; it's not brave people who come to fight with you, fighting soldiers and army; it's people who come into a city and attack citizens in their daily routine and run over sidewalks, and there is only one answer to these things."

DEFENSE MINISTER:
"If the fire stops, the fate of the abductees will be sealed for many years in the captivity of Hamas." Without military pressure no one will talk to us. Only from a position of strength can the abductees be freed.

The intensive maneuver phase has ended in the north of the Gaza Strip, in the south of the Gaza Strip it will end soon and in both places the moment will come when we move to the next phase.

In the south of the Gaza Strip, IDF forces are targeting the head of the snake - the Hamas leadership." As part of this action, and as part of the desire to secure this dedicated effort - the Khan Yunis Brigade is gradually disintegrating as a fighting force. We also cut off the roads that lead to Rafah above and below ground.

Political indecision may harm the progress of the military operation.

The future government in Gaza must grow from the Gaza Strip, Gaza will be ruled by Palestinians. The end of the military campaign must be anchored in a political act.

This is a time for unity and a time for partnership. This is the time for compromises between us in order to achieve the goals of the war for all of us. The emergency government is a condition for winning the war. Without it - every achievement and every price will become "ours" and "yours".

We have eliminated more than 300 terrorists in Israel since the beginning of the war. This pressure, along with the images coming out of the Gaza Strip, create a high motivation in the field for attacks. The way to drain it is to allow work and livelihood for the residents of Yosh. I'm not saying that such events can't have consequences, but the result of increasing pressure - will lead to much more dangerous things."