BICOM

Israel’s Security Cabinet met yesterday to assess its response to a wave of attacks on the Gaza border.

Seven Palestinians were reportedly killed and more than 100 injured on Friday. Three Palestinians were shot after they used an explosive device to break through the border fence and attack Israeli soldiers. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said other rioters threw grenades, explosive devices and firebombs at Israeli troops.

The IDF Spokesperson’s Office issued a statement describing the incident as “an attempted terror attack that was stopped by IDF forces professionally and swiftly and which prevented a terror attack against civilians and security forces”.

Prime Minister Netanyahu said yesterday: “Hamas, apparently, has not internalised the message. If they do not stop the violent attacks against us, they will be stopped in a different way and it will be painful — very painful.” Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman told Ynet: “Israel has no right, no option, no luxury of prosecuting wars of choice. We can only prosecute wars of no-choice. In the past months we have made every effort, turned over every stone, and the stage of no-choice is behind us.”

The Security Cabinet decided against immediate military action and agreed to wait and see if Hamas heeds the warnings from Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defence Minister Lieberman. Egyptian Intelligence Director Abbas Kamel is expected to renew talks between Jerusalem, Gaza and Ramallah this week to ease tensions in Gaza.

Defence Minister Lieberman announced on Saturday that he was stopping all fuel deliveries to the Gaza Strip in response to the escalation of violence in recent weeks. He said: “As long as the violence in the Gaza Strip does not stop, there will be no fuel and natural gas. Israel will not tolerate a situation in which fuel trucks are sent into Gaza while terror and violence are used against IDF soldiers and Israeli citizens.”

Hamas leader Ismail Haniya attended the weekend’s riots and later said: “The demonstrations will continue until the siege on Gaza is lifted.”