The military and political repercussions from this latest episode of terrorism are slowly being played out in the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem and in the skies above Gaza.
“They were abducted and murdered in cold blood by human animals,” Netanyahu said shortly after the bodies were found. “On behalf of the entire Jewish people, I would like to tell the dear families – the mothers, fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers, and brothers and sisters – we are deeply saddened, the entire nation weeps with you. Vengeance for the blood of a small child, Satan has not yet created. Hamas is responsible – and Hamas will pay. May the memories of the three boys be blessed.”
In the midst of the nation’s collective grief, members of Netanyahu’s cabinet disagreed on Monday evening over Israel’s response to the murders. Jewish Home Party and Minister of the Economy Naftali Bennett demanded a harsh response, including a ground operation in Gaza that would destroy Hamas.
But Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon rejected Bennett’s demands, saying he did not want to drag Israel into a war at this time. Netanyahu and Yaalon have ordered repeated Israel Air Force strikes against Hamas and Islamic Jihad targets after the terror groups launched Grad rocket attacks on towns and cities in the Negev and on south and central Israel sectors during the past week.
Hamas leaders in Gaza have warned Israel that they will “open the gates of hell” if the IDF attempts a wide-scale invasion.