Israel threatens harsh response to Gaza militants
Published: Monday | February 2, 2009
Palestinians stand outside tents set up by an Islamic charity for families who lost their homes during Israel's recent military offensive, in the devastated area of eastern Jebaliya, in the northern Gaza Strip, on Friday. Israel launched its 22-day offensive to try to halt Hamas rocket fire on southern Israel. At least 1,285 Palestinians were killed in the assault, more than half of them civilians. - AP
JERUSALEM (AP):
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert yesterday threatened harsh and disproportionate retaliation after Gaza militants fired at least 10 rockets and mortar shells into southern Israel, wounding three and raising the spectre of a new round of violence days ahead of Israel's general election.
The three candidates for premier sought out microphones and cameras, levelling threats against the Hamas rulers of Gaza, an indication that the Palestinian issue is once again driving Israel's election campaign with voting set for a week from Tuesday.
Mortar barrage
A late afternoon mortar barrage on the village of Nahal Oz, next to the Gaza border fence, wounded three - two soldiers and a civilian - the military and rescue services said.
Earlier, a rocket landed near a kindergarten in a community near Gaza, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said. Warning sirens sent residents scrambling for shelter.
Since an unwritten truce ended Israel's offensive in Gaza two weeks ago, a trickle of rocket and mortar fire has been increasing. Israeli retaliation, including brief ground incursions and bombing runs aimed at rocket launchers and smuggling tunnels, is also intensifying.
The violence threatened to spiral quickly into another full-scale battle.
Harsh response
Olmert addressed his Cabinet before the barrage on Nahal Oz. The Government's position, he said, is that if there is shooting at residents of the south, there will be an Israeli response that will be harsh and disproportionate by its nature.
Hamas spokesman Taher Nunu said Olmert's threat was an attempt by Israel to find false pretexts to increase its aggression against the people of Gaza.
Israeli defence officials said they had not yet formulated a response, but said a return to the offensive in which Israeli tanks and infantry units penetrated deep into Gaza, was unlikely.
Instead, they said Israel would consider air strikes, including attempts to kill Hamas leaders. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were discussing classified security matters.