Israeli Army Chief of Staff, Gabi Ashkenazi, stated that the clam along the border with the Gaza Strip is temporary and that the Hamas movement and other resistance groups could violate the truce at any given movement.
His statement came during a ceremony at an Israeli military base near the border with Gaza. He said that Israel must be prepared for renewed clashes at any given movement, and added that this year is considered the quietest in ten years.
Yet, Ashkenazi stated that Israel must be ready for “what is yet to come”, and must be prepared to counter all threats.
Israeli Ynet News reported that Israel’s President, Shimon Peres, stated during the ceremony that Israel is doing all it can to secure the release of prisoner of war, Gilad Shalit, who was captured by resistance fighters in June of 2006.
Peres claimed that leaders of Hamas in Gaza and in exile are obstructing the deal “due to internal disagreements”.
He said that Hamas and its fighters in the Gaza Strip want to secure a prisoner-swap deal, but Hamas’ leadership in exile has political considerations and is acting on them.
Israel imposed a deadly siege on the Gaza Strip in 2007; hundreds of patients died as hospitals and medical centers ran out of basic supplies and equipment. The siege was enforced by Israel before the clashes between the resistance and Israel were renewed.
It was imposed after the Hamas movement, labeled as a terrorist group by Israel and the United States, achieved an overwhelming victory in the 2006 legislative elections.
