By Xinhua
Jerusalem : Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak vowed on Saturday that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)’s operation in Gaza must continue, local daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported.
Barak made the remarks following a security assessment. The continuation of the IDF operation is in a bid to drive terror operatives launching Qassam rockets into Israel deeper, Barak was quoted as saying.
Barak also vowed that rocket productions labs must be destroyed and Israel Air Force (IAF)’s strikes on Gaza must furthermore continue.
IDF soldiers entered the Gaza Strip on Saturday morning and began operating near the northern strip town of Sajaiya.
Earlier on Saturday, an IDF spokeswoman confirmed to Xinhua that two Israeli soldiers were killed during a military operation in northern Gaza Strip.
The spokeswoman also confirmed that an officer and six soldiers were injured in the same incident, who have been airlifted to the Soroka University Medical Center in Beersheba.
According to Yedioth Ahronoth, at least 48 Palestinians were killed in heavy exchanges of fire which erupted in northern Gaza.
Palestinians said that among the casualties, 12 were civilians, including children and women. More than 60 Palestinians were also injured.
Most of the gunmen killed were Hamas members, several others were Islamic Jihad operatives and one was a member of the Popular Resistance Committees, said the paper.