Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Thursday instructed the defense establishment to get ready for increased attacks by terrorists in the Gaza Strip.
Gallant spoke after an assessment of the security situation conducted in a meeting with Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi and Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) Director Ronen Bar.
“I expressed my appreciation to IDF and ISA forces for the precise operation overnight against Islamic Jihad rocket launching capabilities,” Gallant said.
“I instructed the defense establishment to take all the measures necessary to prepare additional actions and maintain readiness for the possibility of increased fire,” the defense minister added, speaking after his mother, Holocaust survivor Fruma Gallant, died earlier in the day.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also held a situational assessment on Thursday, the third day of “Operation Shield and Arrow” against the Iran-backed Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist group in the Gaza Strip.
The meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem included National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi and the prime minister’s chief of staff Tzachi Braverman and military secretary Maj. Gen. Avi Gil.
The assessments came amid continued rocket fire from the Gaza Strip and Israel Air Force strikes against PIJ assets. Reports were also circulating on Thursday that talks were taking place to end the fighting that has seen more than 500 rockets fired at Israel by Gaza terrorists and Israeli targeted assassinations of PIJ leaders.
There was additional rocket fire aimed at southern Israel communities on Thursday afternoon as funeral processions were taking place in Gaza for three PIJ terrorists killed earlier in the day, including the commander of PIJ’s rocket launching force.
