Lieberman: We Do Not Seek Military Adventures in Gaza

Israeli war minister Avigdor Lieberman has said that “his army is not looking for adventures in Gaza or a military escalation with Hamas, but it will strongly respond to every attack from there.” According to Israeli media

Lieberman’s statement followed the second firing of a rocket into Israeli territory in 24 hours and retaliatory fire from Israeli tanks at a Hamas post in the south of the strip.

“As Defense Minister I can say in the name of the government that Israel has responsible and prudent leadership,” Lieberman said. “We are not looking for adventures and no one is promoting an escalation with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.”

“But were determined to defend the security of the citizens of Israel, and that is a principle on which we will not compromise.”
Lieberman added that all fire from Gaza into Israeli territory “will meet a powerful response.”

“Hamas controls the strip without an iron fist and when it wants something or to avoid something, it knows how to do it,” Lieberman continued. “So, also as regards the various prevailing issues, they need to try harder.”

On Wednesday, a rocket fired from Gaza exploded in the Israeli border city of Sderot. There were no injuries. The Israeli army responded with tank fire and airstrikes targeting Hamas positions in Gaza.