Israel may seek unilateral end to Gaza operation
Combat may conclude based on deterrence, not deal, officials say after cabinet meeting
Israel may seek to reach a unilateral end to combat in the Gaza Strip, after the Security Cabinet decided overnight that it would not negotiate with Hamas on yet another truce and would not send a delegation to Cairo at this time, Channel 2 reported Saturday, quoting unnamed senior diplomatic officials
According to the report, such a decision would base the conclusion of Operation Protective Edge, launched by Israel 26 days ago, on deterrence rather then a bilateral ceasefire agreement with Hamas.
“Israel has made it clear to Hamas that they can get lost,” a senior diplomatic official told Channel 2.
“When this is over,” Deputy Foreign Minister Tzachi Hanegbi told Channel 2, “Hamas won’t dare fire on us for years.”
Tzachi Hanegbi (photo credit: Kobi Gideon/Flash90)
The cabinet members met late Friday and into Saturday for over five hours. There was no indication on when Israel might seek to end the conflict. Ministers decided to maintain the “current nature” of the operation, sources quoted by Israel Radio said, stressing the goal of demolishing tunnels, destroying Hamas terror infrastructure, and creating the deterrent effect intended to restore sustained calm for Israel. The sources said the IDF expected to complete its work on the tunnels in the next few days and would then “take stock.”
According to an Army Radio report, the path forward is still being considered, and Israel may yet send a delegation to Cairo at a later time, but for now this is the Israeli position.
Israel formally told Egypt it would not be sending negotiators since Hamas had repeatedly breached previous truce efforts, Israel Radio reported Saturday afternoon.
According to an Army Radio report, the path forward is still being considered, and Israel may yet send a delegation to Cairo at a later time, but for now this is the Israeli position.
Israel formally told Egypt it would not be sending negotiators since Hamas had repeatedly breached previous truce efforts, Israel Radio reported Saturday afternoon.
Smoke rises following what witnesses said were Israeli air strikes in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, Friday, August 1, 2014. (photo credit: Abed Rahim Khatib/Flash90)
A Palestinian delegation including PLO and Fatah representatives from the West Bank, Hamas and Islamic Jihad representatives from abroad, but no representatives in Gaza, was due to arrive in Cairo late Saturday.
Meanwhile Israel told Palestinian residents from the Beit Lahiya and al-Atatara areas of the northern Gaza Strip that they could return to their homes on Saturday afternoon.
The announcement, confirmed by Palestinian sources, marked the first time since Israel launched its ground offensive against Hamas targets in Gaza on July 17 that the IDF told Gaza residents it had completed its military operations in a specific area.
Security sources told The Times of Israel that additional withdrawals were expected in the coming days as forces completed tunnel-destroying operations in different Gaza areas.
On Friday Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly told US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro that the Obama administration was “not to ever second-guess me again” and that Washington should trust his judgment on how to deal with Hamas, according to people familiar with the conversation. Netanyahu added that he now “expected” the US and other countries to fully support Israel’s offensive in Gaza, according to those familiar with the call. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter by name.
Meanwhile Israel told Palestinian residents from the Beit Lahiya and al-Atatara areas of the northern Gaza Strip that they could return to their homes on Saturday afternoon.
The announcement, confirmed by Palestinian sources, marked the first time since Israel launched its ground offensive against Hamas targets in Gaza on July 17 that the IDF told Gaza residents it had completed its military operations in a specific area.
Security sources told The Times of Israel that additional withdrawals were expected in the coming days as forces completed tunnel-destroying operations in different Gaza areas.
On Friday Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly told US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro that the Obama administration was “not to ever second-guess me again” and that Washington should trust his judgment on how to deal with Hamas, according to people familiar with the conversation. Netanyahu added that he now “expected” the US and other countries to fully support Israel’s offensive in Gaza, according to those familiar with the call. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter by name.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (Photo credit: Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)
With the ceasefire in tatters less than two hours after it took effect with a Hamas attack in Rafah that killed two Israeli troops and left a third missing, President Barack Obama demanded that those responsible release the soldier, Hadar Goldin, immediately.
Obama and other US officials did not directly blame Hamas for the abduction. But they made clear they hold Hamas responsible for, or having influence over, the actions of all factions in the Gaza Strip. Hamas confirmed carrying out the Rafah attack, but said it had no information on a missing soldier. - sumber
Obama and other US officials did not directly blame Hamas for the abduction. But they made clear they hold Hamas responsible for, or having influence over, the actions of all factions in the Gaza Strip. Hamas confirmed carrying out the Rafah attack, but said it had no information on a missing soldier. - sumber
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