Region | Palestinian Territories

Israel Defence Minister issues stiff warning to Gaza militants

Defence Minister Ehud Barak warned on Thursday that militants in Hamas-ruled Gaza would pay a "heavy price" if they continued to target Israel and the military finalised preparations for a possible large-scale assault on the coastal territory.

  • AP
  • Published: 14:04 December 25, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • Israel's military said four mortars were fired on Thursday into Israel, causing no injuries
  • Image Credit: Gulf News Archive

Occupied Jerusalem: Defence Minister Ehud Barak warned on Thursday that militants in Hamas-ruled Gaza would pay a "heavy price" if they continued to target Israel and the military finalised preparations for a possible large-scale assault on the coastal territory.

Israel's military said four mortars were fired on Thursday into Israel, causing no injuries. According to Army Radio, a fifth mortar landed at Israel's passenger crossing with Gaza as Gaza Christians were crossing en route to the West Bank town of Bethlehem for Christmas Day celebrations. Security officials had no additional information on that report.

Also on Thursday, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni was in Cairo to update Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Israel's objectives.

A day earlier, militants pummeled southern Israel with more than 80 rockets and mortars, causing no injuries but generating widespread panic.

Israeli Cabinet ministers huddled for hours discussing Israel's response to the barrage and defense officials later told The Associated Press that ministers had approved a broad invasion of Gaza that would be launched after winter rains subsided.

"Whoever harms the citizens and soldiers of Israel will pay a heavy price," Barak warned.

Barak did not elaborate. But defence officials, speaking on condition on anonymity because they were not permitted to discuss the plans, said the Israeli operation would likely begin with surgical airstrikes against rocket launchers and continue with a land incursion.

  • Rate this article
  • Average reader rating (0 votes) 0 Stars
Tools

Emailing an article to friend is a simple way to share a news item. Your friend will receive an email with your name and email address as well any personal message you choose to send.

The information you provide on this page will not be used to send unsolicited emails.

This service is not intended to encourage spam, and action may be taken against individuals who maliciously enter personal details of another individual.

Share this article

Related Articles

  1. UAE urges Obama to support Arabs

    UAE urges Obama to support Arabs

    UAE urges Obama to support Arab initiative to secure stability in Mideast

  2. Livni in Cairo for talks on Gaza

    Israeli Foreign Minister Livni in Cairo for talks on Gaza

  3. Gaza violence dims hopes for truce

    Gaza violence dims hopes for truce

    Fresh violence in Gaza dims hopes for Middle East truce

  4. Israel wary of escalation ahead of polls

    Israel wary of escalation ahead of polls

    Israel wary of escalation ahead of polls

  5. Palestine launches assault on Israel

    Palestine launches assault on Israel

    Palestinian militants launch mortar, rocket assault on Israel

  6. Hamas fighters killed in blast in Gaza

    Hamas fighters killed in blast in southern Gaza

  7. Hamas weighs terms for fresh truce

    Hamas offers to study fresh Gaza truce with Israel

  8. Falk calls upon ICC to indict Israel

    Falk calls upon ICC to indict Israel

    ICC urged to indict Israel over policies against Palestinians

More from Palestinian Territories

  1. Israel offers 10-month West Bank colony freeze

  2. Fighters agree to stop firing rockets into Israel

  3. Israel nears prisoner swap deal

  4. Abbas confirms postponing Palestinian vote

All articles in Palestinian territories

More from Region

Gulf News
Popular in News
News Editor's choice