The security cabinet, after convening in Jerusalem Wednesday morning has agreed to expand operations in Gaza, which will likely include a significant expansion of the buffer zone in the north of the Gaza strip.The security cabinet, after convening in Jerusalem Wednesday morning has agreed to expand operations in Gaza, which will likely include a significant expansion of the buffer zone in the north of the Gaza strip.
This expansion of the buffer zone in northern Gaza was initially proposed last Sunday by Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter at a Security Cabinet meeting in which he is quoted as saying "The Qassams have to be stopped no matter what," and that "If need be, we can turn Beit Hanoun into a ghost town. We need to return the balance of deterrence." by IsraelNN.com.
Wednesday’s meeting was convened by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert after a Qassam rocket reached the Israeli town of Ashkelon Tuesday night. Ashkelon is 12 kilometers from Gaza whereas Qassam rockets generally have a range of around 10 kilometers. This is believed to be the reason for Wednesday’s security cabinet meeting.
Hamas’ military wing, the Iz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, have claimed responsibility for the attack.
In an issued statement the Brigades claimed the attack on Ashkelon came "Amidst the continued IOF (Israeli Occupation Forces’) aggressions on the Palestinian people and their deliberate targeting of the Palestinian infrastructure and vital installations" as an attempt to "reciprocate those aggressions."
