Israel’s response on Sunday morning to rocket fire from the Gaza Strip symbolizes, to a large extent, Jerusalem’s new policy regarding Hamas: embrace and contain, rather than pursue direct military confrontation.
The response featured an aerial attack on empty buildings, so as to create the impression of a retaliatory strike against Hamas, which Israel formerly holds responsible for all violence from Gaza. But it was accompanied by statements by security officials who seemed to be trying to defend Hamas.
“The purpose of the recent rocket launches from the Gaza Strip was to inflame matters between Hamas and Israel,” a high-ranking defense official said, alluding to the assessment that the rocket fire is being carried out by an Islamic State-affiliated Salafist group, some of whose operatives have been jailed by Hamas. The Israeli official added that Islamic State expected that “Israel would attack Hamas and do its work for it.” (READ MORE)
