Israeli Defense officials announced the launch of Operation Protective Edge early Tuesday morning, including a series of air strikes and possible ground incursions into the Gaza Strip to put an end to the withering barrage of rocket fire into Israel. “Hamas chose to escalate the situation and it will pay a heavy price for doing so,” said PM Benjamin Netanyahu. “We are prepared for a campaign against Hamas, which will not end within days,” Defense Minister Moshe “Bogie” Ya’alon added. “Hamas is leading the current confrontation to a place in which it seeks to exact a heavy price from our home front. There is a need for patience. The IDF is continuing with the offensive effort, in a manner that will exact a very heavy price from Hamas. We will not tolerate missile and rocket fire on Israel, and we are prepared to expand the campaign through all of the means available to us, to continue striking Hamas.” Read More
