Thursday morning, an Israeli military source reported that Palestinian resistance fired seven shells at Netzarim settlement in the Gaza Strip, no injuries were reported.
The source stated that Palestinian resistance fired two homemade shells at the settlement, followed by additional five shells.
Israel threatens to resume Gaza incursions
Israeli official source said on Thursday that the Israeli military is weighing the resumption of military invasions in the Gaza Strip.
{mosimage}Israeli deputy Defense Minister Ze’ev Boim said Israel must respond more forcefully to Palestinian mortar attacks this week, adding that it is unacceptable to carry out disengagement under fire.
In response to an Israeli air strike that killed a Palestinian in Khan Younis on Wednesday, Hamas launched 26 mortars and a number of anti-tank rockets at the settlements and army outposts in Gush Katif on Wednesday. As a result, one Israeli was lightly wounded.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is set to meet with Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz and other senior security officials on Thursday to weigh possible courses of action.
Sharon and Mofaz threatened the Palestinian Authority Wednesday night that Israel plans to resume its offensive operations in Gaza if the PA does not move immediately to halt the Hamas mortar fire on Gush Katif.
‘From now on, Israel must respond with greater forcefulness than previously, because we have been restraining ourselves thus far,’ said Boim, who often enunciates government policy.
‘It is in our interest that calm will truly prevail before the evacuation, because it is inconceivable that will carry out an evacuation under fire,’ Boim told Israel Radio Thursday.