The expectation that Israel was about to do a unilateral pullout from Gaza seems to have been a bit premature.
PM: Gaza Mission to Last as Long as Necessary
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli troops will finish the job of destroying Hamas tunnels under the Gaza-Israel border and continue to operate in accordance with Israel's security needs.
“We will take as much time as necessary and will exert as much force as needed,” he said in a televised address Saturday.
Netanyahu’s comments came on the same day Israel announced it would not send envoys to planned truce talks this weekend in Egypt, after accusing Hamas of violating what was to have been a three-day cease-fire beginning Friday morning.
The prime minister warned Hamas will pay an "intolerable" price if it fails to end attacks on Israel from Gaza.
He promised Israeli ctizens the military would "bring back calm and order ... no matter how much time" and effort it would take. He thanked them for "resiliance and unity."
The prime minister apologized to Gaza's Palestinian civilians on behalf of Israelis. Saying "we have nothing against the citizens of Gaza," Netanyahu encouraged the international community "to help and support the rebuilding of Gaza."
Netanyahu thanked United States and European leaders for their support, specifically praising U.S. President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry for defending Israel's "right to destroy missiles and tunnels." The comment seemed aimed at defusing some of the criticism leveled at the secretary over rocky peace efforts.
The big bad wolf huffed and puffed and blew the little pigs' house down.
The carnage is going to go on and on.