BICOM

The Israeli Air Force responded to rocket fire which continued over the weekend, striking rocket crews and other targets mainly outside of populated areas. Yesterday evening, there were reports that the IAF targeted Faraj Abu Rabia, a Hamas operative involved in the tunnel effort.

On Sunday, rockets from Gaza hit aid trucks heading into the strip at the Kerem Shalom crossing, causing fires. Israel was forced to close the crossing, which had received aid throughout the current conflict, for safety purposes. The crossing was attacked by gunmen in the evening, apparently trying to infiltrate Israel.

Although rocket fire from Gaza was to shorter ranges, the residents of the south of Israel had a stressful weekend, and many were angry at the Home Front Command for telling them that they should return home during the previous ceasefire. The Independent quotes a father in the south:“The families that returned with children are all the time forced to stay in their homes. We decided it wasn’t fair to the children for them to be here until such time when it is safe for them to play outside.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged “stamina” and Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon warned that Hamas was trying to “wear [Israel] down”.

However, some ministers were more critical about the cycle of short ceasefires followed by a return to rockets. Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman called on the Israeli Government to “defeat Hamas, clean up the area, and exit as quickly as possible.”