Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Wednesday that a large-scale military operation in the Gaza Strip is "just a matter of time," local daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported.
Barak paid a visit to soldiers from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)'s Gaza Division on Wednesday evening along with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi and Maj. Gen. Yoav Galant, head of the Southern Command.
"We know a large-scale operation in Gaza is just a matter of time," Barak was quoted as saying, but added that "we still consider such an operation a last resort."
The defense minister was briefed by division commanders on recent operations. Over the course of the past week and a half, some 30 Palestinian militants were killed in Gaza in numerous clashes with IDF forces.
Earlier on the day, Ashkenazi alluded to the possibility of a wide ground operation in the Gaza Strip, saying the army would be prepared for such action to stop Qassam and mortar shell fire.
"If necessary, we are ready for the possibility of an operation(in Gaza)," the IDF chief said.
The report said Israeli defense establishment believes that an IDF operation in Gaza is inevitable, especially considering the growing support for Hamas and other militant groups in the Strip.
Source: Xinhua
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