LOC09:54
06:54 GMT
GAZA, Dec 22 (KUNA) -- Military skirmishes in Gaza are expected to continue for says, said Haaretz Israeli paper, referring to tension caused by the recent Israeli raids on the strip. "Hamas is trying to change the rules of the game on the Gaza border after reviewing events in the area over the past two weeks," the paper quoted Israeli officials as saying.
"The escalation on the border will not necessarily lead to a large operation by the Israel Defense Forces like Operation Cast Lead," they said.
They added that the days ahead will clarify whether Israel can defuse tensions on the border and restore deterrence levels that had remained intact since the end of the Israeli offensive on the strip.
Israel intends to compel Hamas to return to the state of affairs after the Gaza offensive in which the Islamic organization restrained its military wing and urged other Palestinian groups to refrain from operations against Israel, Haaretz said.
In the absence of a channel of communications, messages between Israel and Hamas are expressed mainly via displays of strength, it pointed out.
In the past few days, Israeli warplanes executed more than ten raids on Gaza, killing five people, injuring eight others, and causing great damage.
The landing of a rocket on Tuesday near a kibbutz preschool close to Ashkelon was a reminder that an incident in which a weapon lands a few meters to one side or another could spark a conflagration, Haaretz said.
"Had the rocket killed people, rather than cause light injuries, circumstances on the Gaza border today would be very different," it added.
The escalation has been expressed in recent days mainly by Palestinian attacks against IDF patrols on both sides of the electric fence, and by increased firing of mortars and rockets, it noted. (end) mzt.ris KUNA 220954 Dec 10NNNN