Lieberman: Next Round of Fighting With Hamas Not Question of «If» But «When»

Local Editor

“Israeli” War Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Monday that the next exchange of blows between the “Israeli” entity and Hamas in Gaza is inevitable, calling it not a question of "if" but "when".

"The question of the next round of fighting is not 'if' but 'when'. I'm sure we'll do what we need and how we should," Lieberman said.

He noted that since weekly mass protests along the Gaza border kicked off on March 30 "Hamas has claimed 168 dead, 4,348 wounded, and dozens of terror infrastructures destroyed."

"We are conducting a responsible and powerful security policy," Lieberman said. "We are prepared and know what to do and how to do it."

Lieberman’s remarks came as he visited the “Israel” Occupation Force's [IOF] Gaza division and held a situation assessment meeting with the Chief of Staff of the IOF’s southern command and the so-called Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) -- the war ministry body that coordinates affairs between the “Israeli” entity and the Palestinian territories.

“Israeli” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Sunday that the entity would accept nothing short of a “complete” ceasefire from Hamas, seemingly confirming that no official agreement had been struck between the two sides following the most recent round of fighting.

"… Our demand is clear -- a complete ceasefire. We will not suffice with less than this," Netanyahu said at the start of his weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday.

“Our objective is to restore the quiet to residents of the south and the area adjacent to the Gaza Strip; this goal will be achieved in full,” Netanyahu said.

The entity’s security cabinet met later Sunday to discuss possible responses to the ongoing violence on the border, which has been marked by a surge in cross-border arson attacks and violent clashes along the security fence.

Netanyahu has come under political pressure to act more strongly against Hamas resistance group.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team