Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Wednesday evening that Israel will "step up the pressure and the accurate hits against terror activists" in Gaza.

Barak said: "We stand behind the residents [of Sderot and the Gaza perimeter]… I have deep appreciation for the way the residents of Sderot have stood up to the difficult tests."

Barak, who spoke at a ship captain's course graduation ceremony at a Haifa navy base, said: "we will do everything to prevent all terror activity. If there is a need, we will increase the Gaza strikes even more, in order to hit those squads and terrorists that are trying to hurt us."