One day after the Israeli army killed seven Palestinians in the Gaza
Strip, Israeli Defense Minister, Amir Peretz, said that the army will
continue to operate against what he described as “weapons smuggling”
and against areas used used launching pads for homemade shells.
The statements of Peretz came during a visit to the headquarters of the Givati Brigades near Kerem Shalom Crossing.
According to Peretz, the army does not have a current plan to take over the Philadelphi route, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, but wide scaled operations will continue.
Yet he added that a broad operation is very possible “if Israel reaches a conclusion that this is the way to protect its citizens”.
On Tuesday morning, the Israeli army pulled out of the Philadelphi Route area after. According to army sources, soldiers uncovered fifteen tunnels under it. The Route marks the southwestern border area between Egypt and the Gaza Strip.
In spite of the temporary withdrawal from the area, Peretz said that the army is already preparing for what he described as “a return operation” within the coming few days.
