Liberman: Israel is operating in accordance with the reality on the ground

Israel is operating in regards to Gaza in accordance with the reality on the ground, Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman said Tuesday as reports continue to surface about an emerging ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

“I have heard countless stories and rumors about Israel’s arrangement with Hamas, and I repeat, we are talking to the Egyptians, the UN and the international community. As far as I’m concerned there is only one standing arrangement, and that is the current reality on the ground” the Defense Minister said.

“We are operating unilaterally in accordance with the reality on the ground, and apparently this is how it will continue.”

According to Liberman, while there is a dramatic drop of terror incidents along the Gaza border, it is nonetheless “impossible to completely prevent” all attacks.

“There is no doubt that there is a decline but that is not enough, so all we do and what is really important, is to create an absolute connection between the calm and economic benefits [for Gazans]”, he said.

Israel has since July linked the closing of its two crossings into the Strip, Kerem Shalom and Erez Crossing, with the cessation of Palestinian violence in the enclave. On Saturday evening Israel closed the Erez Crossing except for humanitarian cases in response to the violent weekly demonstrations on Friday along the Gaza border fence.

Israel lets food, goods back into Gaza as Egypt pushes truce, August 15, 2018 (Reuters)

“In the end, we must understand that looking at another 12 years, what we want to see in the end, what we are talking about is quiet. Therefore we must also understand that the function of the economy, economic stability, also ensures calm,” Liberman said.

Two weeks ago saw another round of fighting between Israel and Hamas where over 200 rockets and mortars fired from the coastal enclave towards southern Israeli communities within a 24 hour period and over 150 retaliatory strikes by Israeli jets.

While there has since been relative calm on Israel’s southern border, IDF troops on Monday exchanged fire with a Palestinian who opened fire at them in the northern Gaza Strip. No soldiers were hurt in the incident.

“The shooting incident yesterday was apparently a single person who is not affiliated with any group,” Liberman said, adding that the balloons launched into southern Israel on Monday “were only balloons” and were not incendiary aerial devices which caused fires.

Gazans have been protesting along the border with Israel since March 30th as part of what organizers have called the “Great March of Return.” Demonstrators have been throwing stones, Molotov cocktails and rocks toward Israeli troops and flying incendiary kites, condoms and balloon into Israeli territory, destroying over 10,000 dunams of forest, nature reserves and agricultural fields.

There have even been several incidents with falcons and other birds found dead in southern Israel with incendiary devices attached to them.