A security official said that Israel's response to Thursday's Katyusha attack exacted a "heavy price" from Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists, but noted that further action could eventually include a large-scale, medium-to-long term IDF ground presence in Gaza.
However, the official also told the Hebrew-language NRG website that such a move would be temporary, and stressed that terrorists would continue to smuggle weapons and ammunition into Gaza. He also said that despite the fact that more than 100,000 Israeli civilians are now within range of Arab missiles, there are no plans to reinforce houses in Ashkelon or the western Negev area because of the prohibitive cost.