Hamas cannot dictate to Israel the terms of a ceasefire, Ofir Akunis, a deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, says in an interview on Israel Radio, adding that Israel will continue to target Hamas leaders and terrorist infrastructure.
Likud MK Ofir Akunis (photo credit: Flash90)
Addressing increasing international calls of concern regarding the loss of civilian life in Gaza, Akunis says that Israel does not want to harm innocent Palestinians, but Hamas is hiding rockets in schools and private homes.
MK Ronen Hoffman (Yesh Atid) echoes Akunis in saying he does not support a one-sided cease-fire, citing that the foremost goal of the operation is to restore quiet to Israeli citizens, while the second goal is to dismantle Hamas’ rocket infrastructure.
Hoffman, who serves on the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, also praises the courage of Israeli citizens.
“The courage and fortitude of the [Israeli] citizens is no less significant than military pressure,” he says at an event in Givatayim, just east of Tel Aviv. “Public resilience is a central part of how we show the other side – you cannot win.”
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