Tank outside Gaza (archive)
Tank outside Gaza (archive)Flash 90

Israel is not seeking a ceasefire with Hamas, but rather, guarantees for southern Israel’s safety, Minister Gilad Erdan (Likud) said Tuesday.

“There is some misunderstanding here,” he told IDF Radio (Galei Tzahal). “Israel is not seeking a ceasefire. We are trying to bring long-term quiet with international guarantees.”

“What will talk of a ceasefire give us?” Erdan asked. “If a missile falls, will they say it was a lone ‘trickle’? What guarantees can the world give residents of southern Israel?”

According to some reports, the United States and Egypt would commit to fighting weapons smuggling to Gaza as part of a ceasefire deal.

Hamas has claimed that a ceasefire is imminent, but at the same time, continues to fire rockets at Israeli cities, targeting not only its usual victims in southern Israel but also Jerusalem and central Israel.

If the rocket fire from Gaza continues, the IDF will hit the Hamas structure of power, Erdan declared.

The government would prefer to avoid entering Gaza, he related. “We are not eager to do something that could endanger soldiers.” However, he said, a ground operation will be ordered if needed.