Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has hinted that the Tel Aviv regime is ready to expand its military operations in the besieged Gaza Strip. The Israeli premier said on Sunday that Tel Aviv was prepared to widen its operations in the besieged enclave.
Netanyahu says the almost-nightly strikes on Gaza could be expanded if need be.
The remarks come as Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has called for the reoccupation of Gaza as Israeli military forces are gearing up for a possible all-out war on the impoverished territory.
Israeli warplanes have already conducted a dozen airstrikes in central and southern Gaza since Saturday, injuring a number of Palestinians.
Israelis claim their attacks are in retaliation for rockets fired from Gaza. However, the Palestinians lack any drones, warplanes or even sophisticated missile systems to attack Israelis.
Israel has also accused Palestinian resistance movement Hamas of being behind the disappearance of the Israeli settlers. However, the movement has denied any involvement.
Israel occasionally launches limited cross-border raids into the Gaza Strip on security pretexts, often razing land near the border in the so-called buffer zone it maintains on the Gaza side of the border.
In 2008-2009, more than 1330 Palestinians -- the natives of the land -- were killed during Israel's Operation Cast Lead, while thousands of others, many of them women and children, remained hospitalized.
In November 2012, Israel launched the so-called Operation Pillar of Defense I against Gaza. Over 160 Palestinians, including women and children, were killed and about 1,200 others were injured and more than 1,500 targets were hit across the Palestinian enclave during the eight-day war.
Gaza has been blockaded since June 2007, which is a situation that has caused a decline in the standard of living, unprecedented levels of unemployment, and unrelenting poverty.
The apartheid regime of Israel denies about 1.7 million people in Gaza their basic rights, such as freedom of movement, jobs that pay proper wages, and adequate healthcare and education.
JR/AB