Member of Knesset Motti Yogev (Bayit Yehudi) has called on Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman (Yisrael Beiteinu) to not punish the civilian population of Gaza in response to a recent spike in border violence.
The lawmaker suggested that Israel instead eliminate individual Hamas leaders.
“It’s time for a response,” Yogev said. “And [the response] doesn’t have to be withholding fuel from civilians, it can be eliminating Hamas leaders.”
Yogev denied concerns that striking down Hamas leaders would exacerbate the situation.
“Only determined steps such as these – maybe they will escalate things for a moment, but they will bring back our deterrence and return security to communities along the Gaza border.”
Yogev, who also serves as a member of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, issued his comments in response to recent decision by Defense Minister Lieberman to deprive fuel to the Hamas-controlled territory.
A statement from the defense minister read: “Israel will not tolerate a situation in which fuel tankers are allowed into Gaza on the one hand, while terror and violence against IDF soldiers and citizens of Israel is carried out on the other hand.”
