“This is a central threat; it is at the top of the IDF’s priority list. An intelligence and operational effort is taking place in this area … Our enemies aren’t abandoning this issue, Hamas chooses to direct a lot of resources at preserving a pattern of action, which creates, according to their perception, a balance against Israel with which to insert covert forces and perpetrate attacks. It’s a big challenge and we are not letting the quiet in the south fool us. 2015 is the quietest year the south has seen.” (IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot speaking at the Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) in Herzliya, 09/02/2016)