IDF should eliminate all Qassam launchers in Gaza: minister

Israeli Public Defense Minister Avi Dichter on Wednesday urged the government to take action, ordering the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to eliminate all Qassam rocket launchers in Gaza Strip by all necessary means.

In the wake of Wednesday morning's fatal Qassam strike on the southern town of Sderot, which killed one woman and critically injured a man, Dichter said "the political echelon should have and still must issue an order to do everything possible to end the Qassam fire from Gaza into Israel."

"Unfortunately, there isn't such an order. The current IDF operation is not sufficient. The operation must be expanded," he added.

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Amir Peretz vowed on Wednesday that Palestinian militant organizations will pay a dear price for the lethal Qassam attack against Sderot.

"We will act against all those involved in Qassam attacks, from the most senior terrorist to the lowest ranking one," he said.

He planned to convene a special meeting of senior security officials later in the day.

Right-winged Israeli Knesset (Parliament) members lashed out on the government for its failure to address the ongoing rocket threat to the southern Israeli communities.

Islamic Jihad and militants affiliated with the ruling Palestinian movement Hamas both claimed responsibility for the attack. Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said the Palestinians acted in self-defense.

In order to stop rocket firing and other attacks by Palestinians in Gaza, IDF launched Operation Autumn Clouds at the beginning of this month, leaving more than 85 Palestinians dead.

Source: Xinhua