IDF chief: ‘We’ll expand our operations as much as needed’ in Gaza

IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi says the strikes in Gaza were in the works for a while and that the military “waited and chose the best time.”

Halevi says Israel wants calm in Gaza and for residents of the enclave to have “safe and quiet lives” but that Islamic Jihad’s “offensive activities” harm this effort.

“Therefore we acted in a targeted manner,” he says, “and we will expand our operations as much as needed.”

Nobody who fires at Sderot and elsewhere, and seeks relentlessly to kill Israeli citizens, is immune from Israel’s response, he says.

He also touts the “accurate operation” and says the IDF worked to not harm non-combatants, after 10 civilians were killed as well.

If it had been possible to eliminate the three Islamic Jihad commanders without non-combatant casualties, the IDF would have done so, he says.

“Terrorism hides in populated areas,” and seeks to harm Israel’s civilians, he says, while Israel “makes every effort” to avoid harming Gaza’s non-combatants.