'Israel' Security Minister calls for state of high alert as precaution
Israeli security minister Yoav Gallant orders the Israeli occupation forces to be on a high state of alert as a precautionary measure in light of fears about expanded battle.
Israeli Security Minister Yoav Gallant on Thursday ordered a heightened state of alert within the Israeli occupation forces, Israeli media reported on Thursday.
Gallant directed the Israeli security establishment "to take all necessary measures to prepare a series of additional operations" and maintain their preparedness as a precaution due to the possibility of the combat zone expanding.
This comes after the Israeli top security official met with Chief-of-Staff Herzi Halevi and Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar.
"It is estimated that the upcoming salvoes will hit areas deep into Israel, further that Gaza envelope," Israeli media reported. "Nothing would prevent the incoming salvoes of rockets from hitting the Central District."
Moreover, Israeli media said the IOF had ordered "the recruitment of reservists to secure the towns around the Gaza Strip and up to 7 km from the border."
A large number of settlers left the southern region and headed toward the Dead Sea and "Eilat" due to the tense security situation, Israeli Channel 12 reported.
This comes after Israeli media reported Wednesday that the aggression on Gaza failed to break any equation or change anything fundamental, advising the government to come clean with the Israeli occupation settlers on that matter.
"It is recommended that the government explain this truth" to the settlers in the Gaza envelope "before they wake up in a few weeks or days to the disturbing sound of the next red color alarm," Israel Hayom reported.
In the absence of a solution regarding "the Gaza problem (and Palestinian issue in general), Israel will continue to engage in battles with Gaza, the essence of which is engaging in short fighting rounds with the aim of achieving the longest possible truces between the two sides."
Settlers terrified
The resistance's rockets have paralyzed the Israeli occupation and spread fear within the occupation's entity, putting its settlers through the ringer in terms of fear, Israeli affairs expert Hassan Hijazi told Al Mayadeen.
"The predominant state of fear is affecting settlers from the Gaza Envelope all the way to Tel Aviv," the expert said.
"This state of fear was reflected in various ways, including in the settlers fleeing from their settlements toward the north and partially deserting a large portion of settlements," he added.
Moreover, Hijazi explained that the evacuations were being carried out in an orderly manner for the first time, which "constitutes a part of the resistance's victory."
"Settlers no longer feel safe while moving within the settlements, leading all aspects of life to get paralyzed," the expert concluded.
The Palestinian Resistance renewed its rocket fire toward the occupied Palestinian territories. Al Mayadeen correspondent reported that successive salvoes of rockets were fired from Gaza on Thursday, as warning sirens sounded in the Gaza envelope settlements.