Minister: If Israel wants calm in Gaza, it must occupy it

If Israel wants “the Gaza border to be completely quiet, there’s no choice but to conquer the Strip”, Israeli Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked said yesterday.

“Soldiers are performing well, in accordance with open-fire orders,” she told Army Radio. “Security forces are doing a very good job and containing events.”

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She said that if Israel wanted “the Gaza border to be completely quiet, there’s no choice but to conquer the Strip,” but added: “I don’t think that should be done at this time.”

Remarking on international criticism of the large death toll among Palestinians on the Gaza border, Shaked said: “It is unpleasant, but we have a lot of experience, and we can deal with it.”

Meanwhile, Arab MK, Ahmed Tibi, accused the Israeli army of committing a “massacre” against unarmed Palestinians on the Gaza border on Monday.