IDF to continue operations in Gaza: DM

Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz Wednesday morning said that Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would continue its operations in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli daily Jerusalem Post reported.

"No one can put an absolute stop to Kassam fire , but that doesn't mean we have to remain helpless. We won't let these ( terrorist organizations) grow stronger," Peretz said at a press conference held on Wednesday morning.

However, he assured that the operations would target the terrorist infrastructure only.

Meanwhile, an IDF spokesman confirmed to Xinhua that the IDF is conducting a new round of large-scale military operation in Beit Hanoun town in northern Gaza Stripe.

The spokesman said that over 20 Palestinian militants have been hit during both the air and ground raids in the town, but refused to disclose how many Palestinians were killed.

He said that gunbattle between IDF troops and Palestinian militants are continuing in the area.

The ongoing operation in northern Gaza is one of the largest scales since the IDF had launched the operation Summer Rain which was aimed at bringing back Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier kidnapped by Palestinian militants on June 25, according to the spokesman.

He said that operation is aimed at stemming the Qassam rockets attacks against Israel from the area, citing that during the past three months, more than 300 Qassam rockets have been launched from the area.

Source: Xinhua