(Xinhua) -- Israel was not planning to re-conquer the Gaza Strip but limited operations would continue in the coming days, Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz said Saturday. "A large-scale land incursion into Gaza does not serve Israel's security," Peretz told the Israel Radio. | The defense minister rejected the option of striking infrastructure facilities in Gaza, such as electricity, fuel, water and communications, saying such an operation "would cause the entire Palestinian population to unite around Hamas." |
However, Israel Defense Forces will continue to initiate operations in any scope that the situation would demand " to prevent any of our enemies from harming us," he added. Meanwhile, a report in the Telegraph said Israel is considering giving military support to Fatah, in order to strengthen it in its struggle against Hamas. Peretz responded that Israel had "an interest that the moderates would win," but declined to elaborate any actual measures Israel might take to advance such an outcome.
Meanwhile, Three Qassam rockets landed in the western Negev on Saturday morning. No injuries were reported in all three incidents. The al-Quds Brigades, the Islamic Jihad's military wing, claimed responsibility for the attack. Moments later, Israel Air Force targeted a Qassam launching cell, which fired two Qassam rockets at Sderot moments before. The cell's three members were hit.