israel reportedly deployed two infantry brigades and armoured units to the Gaza border and began striking Hamas targets, sparking fears that a Hamas rocket which hit a crowded Israeli residential neighbourhood, injuring at least 7 on Monday morning, may prompt a major new war.
Israeli media are on edge Monday over the Hamas rocket attack, which prompted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cut short his visit to the United States to take control over the situation. Hamas denied responsibility for the attack, with an official saying the group had “no interest” in escalating the situation. However, the israel Defence Forces announced Monday that they had begun striking Hamas targets throughout the Gaza Strip.
In an analytical piece on the escalation, Jerusalem Post contributor Seth J. Frantzman emphasized that the ball was now in “Israel's court” as far as the management of the crisis goes, with regional powers, including Hamas supporters Turkey and Qatar, unlikely to desire a new conflict.
Frantzman pointed out that even Iran, traditionally supportive of Hamas and its battles against Israel, has remained “mum on the current crisis,” remaining “focused on a massive military operation to aid flood victims throughout the country.” Tehran will be forced to ‘carefully consider' the ramification of a new Gaza war, because “it knows that an Israeli adversary…is a more complex challenge” than the US…
