Israel threatens escalation on Gaza front

TEL AVIV Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel was ready for a wider action in Gaza, following an escalation of violence in which four Palestinians were killed. The latest round of violence escalated after an Israeli army officer was wounded on Tuesday when he activated a device planted near the border, which was followed by Israeli air strikes against targets in Gaza. Israel threatens escalation on Gaza front Israeli police said that more than 70 rockets and mortar shells exploded in that country by Wednesday afternoon, after Israeli warplanes four times, starting last night, attacked Gaza, killing four Palestinians. On the Israeli side, three people were injured today, two of whom foreign workers. "We did not ask for this escalation and we have not initiated it. But if it continues, we are ready for a much broader and deeper action. Anyway we will continue our preventative action. Anyone who attacks Israeli citizens must know that they will pay," said Netanyahu as he toured a location near the town of Ashkelon where a missile defense battery, dubbed "Iron Dome", has been deployed. The escalation also came after the visit of the Emir of Qatar, which broke the isolation of the Hamas leadership in Gaza, sparking criticism from Israel, and from the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, which is dominated by Hamas' rivals the Fatah party. Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, asked whether a ground operation was being considered, told Israel Radio: "If we need a ground operation there will be a ground operation, we will do whatever it takes to stop this wave." Barak also rejected the idea of ​​negotiating with Hamas, saying that this was "a hostile organization". Netanyahu also announced today that Israel will "fortify" all the houses and public buildings within a distance of seven kilometers from the Gaza Strip. Today, schools are closed in Israeli towns near the border with the Strip, and residents were told to stay indoors. Hamas officials have said that the Israeli side also open tank fire, which the military has confirmed. (Beta/AP) Tanjug

Israel threatens escalation on Gaza front

Israeli police said that more than 70 rockets and mortar shells exploded in that country by Wednesday afternoon, after Israeli warplanes four times, starting last night, attacked Gaza, killing four Palestinians.

On the Israeli side, three people were injured today, two of whom foreign workers.

"We did not ask for this escalation and we have not initiated it. But if it continues, we are ready for a much broader and deeper action. Anyway we will continue our preventative action. Anyone who attacks Israeli citizens must know that they will pay," said Netanyahu as he toured a location near the town of Ashkelon where a missile defense battery, dubbed "Iron Dome", has been deployed.

The escalation also came after the visit of the Emir of Qatar, which broke the isolation of the Hamas leadership in Gaza, sparking criticism from Israel, and from the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, which is dominated by Hamas' rivals the Fatah party.

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, asked whether a ground operation was being considered, told Israel Radio: "If we need a ground operation there will be a ground operation, we will do whatever it takes to stop this wave."

Barak also rejected the idea of ​​negotiating with Hamas, saying that this was "a hostile organization".

Netanyahu also announced today that Israel will "fortify" all the houses and public buildings within a distance of seven kilometers from the Gaza Strip.

Today, schools are closed in Israeli towns near the border with the Strip, and residents were told to stay indoors.

Hamas officials have said that the Israeli side also open tank fire, which the military has confirmed.