Israeli Defense Forces have confirmed they are preparing a possible large-scale attack on Gaza. The development has parallels with the Israeli Operation
Cast Lead, which claimed about 1,400 Palestinian lives back in 2008, named a massacre by Gazans.
"We are preparing and in fact are ready for another campaign, which will be varied and different, to renew our deterrence, if we are called on to restore full quiet to the communities [in the south]," one of the IDF's military commanders Brigade General Tal Hermoni was quoted by
Haaretz newspaper as saying.
The head of the division's South Brigade added, however, that he would not equate the possible campaign to
Operation Cast Lead just yet. "The mild response [to Tuesday's targeted killings] is evidence that they do not want to feel the IDF's fists," Tal Hermoni added.
According to
Haaretz, the next Gaza operation will be shorter than in 2008,
but will employ much more firepower. The IDF explained that Hamas and other groups it considers terrorists now have more weapons than they had back in 2008. Since then the groups are said to be extensively using the Kornet anti-tank missiles against the Israeli tanks and rockets fired directly at IDF troops.
The situation on the Israeli-Gaza border has been gradually worsening since August this year. In the latest development which occurred on Thursday morning, Palestinians fired a rocket into southern Israel in reply to the Israeli aerial attacks on Gaza, Al Arabiya television reports. The rocket reportedly caused neither casualties nor damage.
The development follows the exchange of violence which has marked the week. At least four Palestinian rockets hit Israel on Wednesday. On Tuesday, Israel's targeted offensive at Gaza killed three and wounded at least nine people.
Gideon Levy, a columnist with the
Haaretz newspaper, told RT that
the current Israeli government has no serious intention of continuing dialogue with the Palestinians."The Palestinian Authority has just launched another proposal to get back to the negotiation table. They even gave up the precondition of freezing the settlements, which is a minimum condition, and they had suggested just a symbolic release of 100 Palestinian prisoners to get back to the negotiation table. And what did Israel say? 'No!'" Gideon Levy explained.
Comment: For more information on psychopaths, see these Sott links:
Ponerology 101: Snakes in Suits
Not All Psychopaths Are Criminal
Political Ponerology: A Science on The Nature of Evil adjusted for Political Purposes