Despite continued attacks, Israel is refraining from launching a broad military operation in the Gaza Strip and toppling its Hamas regime due to a lack of a better alternative, a senior Israeli official revealed Monday.
The official revealed further that Israel has reached out to several Arab countries to inquire whether they would be willing to assume control of the coastal enclave in a post-Hamas era, but all have refused.
The official did not name the countries that Israel reportedly approached.
According to the official, Israel has only two choices in confronting the violent border riots, which began in Gaza seven months ago, and the arson terrorism campaign involving firebomb kites and balloons launched from Gaza into Israel – "seizing control [of Gaza] and handing power over to a third party or continuing to deal [Gaza] painful blows.
"If there were someone to whom we could hand control [of Gaza], we would do it [launch a military operation] in a way that minimizes casualties, but no one wants it," he said, adding that "an operation in Gaza has to have clear purpose and objectives. With no one to replace Hamas, launching such an operation at this time is futile."
Also Monday, Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman lashed out at members of the Diplomatic-Security Cabinet who criticized his policies, saying they are "held captive by misguided concepts, and we all know where these misguided concepts can lead us. Anyone who thinks that making a deal with Hamas is the answer is wrong."
As tensions mount along the Israel-Gaza Strip border, several ministers have harshly criticized Lieberman, calling his recent remarks endorsing a harsh military campaign against Hamas "nothing but empty threats."
Lawmakers have repeatedly slammed Lieberman for not presenting the cabinet with a concrete plan for a military campaign, saying his bellicose rhetoric included nothing but pandering to his constituents.
Meanwhile, dozens of residents of Gaza-vicinity communities blocked the Kerem Shalom cargo crossing in protests against Israel allowing goods into Gaza despite the growing border violence.
One protester told Israel Hayom that "while we were there we counted over 100 trucks that went in, carrying cement and sand. That's not humanitarian aid – that's delivering hundreds of tons of equipment for Hamas' terror tunnel enterprise."
Another protester said, "We feel that the situation is only getting worse and no one is really doing anything to find a solution."
