Lt. Gen. Gantz: 'IDF Prepared to Respond to Any Threat, Any Time'

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz said that "over the past few days we have witnessed, and continue to witness, a series of attempts to harm the State of Israel. In the face of these threats stands a strong and powerful IDF, prepared to respond to any threat, at any time."

Gantz spoke at the 33rd graduation ceremony of combat officers at Officer Training School. He said that by stopping the terror attack on the Israel-Egypt border, in which an Israeli civilian was killed, "a larger attack was prevented by IDF action." He said that the planned attack "along with the ongoing rocket fire on the communities of southern Israel, reflects our enemies' intent to harm Israeli civilians."

Over the past three days more than 50 rockets fired from the Gaza Strip hit southern Israel, threatening the life of over one million Israeli civilians living in the region. In response, IAF aircraft targeted terrorist squads and terror sites in Gaza, thwarting additional attacks. The terrorist organization Hamas is solely responsible for any terrorist activity emanating from the Gaza Strip.