Gallant: We hope to end campaign soon, but are ready for it to go on

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant highlights the achievements of the IDF and the security forces in his speech.

At the start of the operation early Tuesday, he says, “We wiped out the leadership” of Islamic Jihad. After that, the IDF carried out hundreds of attacks on sites used by Islamic Jihad for the production and storage of weaponry, and “dealt a significant blow to the assets of this murderous terrorist organization.”

“Preventative strikes” also targeted rocket launch pits, and the rockets that were ready for firing at Israel. Terror cells with anti-tank weaponry were also neutralized, he says. “The murderous organization had no answer.”

Of some 400 rockets fired at Israel, he says, 100 fell in Gaza, many fell in open ground, some were intercepted, and some hit Israeli homes.

He says Israel “won’t hesitate” to use its powerful tools “when it becomes clear” that Israel’s enemies “challenge our place here” and seek to harm “our people and Israel’s sovereignty.”

“A situation in which Israeli children face being hurt is not acceptable to me and I won’t allow it,” he vows.

He says Israel’s response in this operation to Islamic Jihad’s rocket assault last week “was surprising and devastating” and that Israel can and will replicate it “in every area and against any target that threatens us.”

The current campaign is not over, says Gallant. “I hope that we will bring it to an end soon, but we are ready for it to be protracted.”