DHAKA: Israel prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu said Monday that Operation Protective Edge would continue until quiet was restored to the citizens of Israel. 

‘The operation in Gaza continues. What is left to be done before it ends is for the IDF to deal with the Gaza attack tunnels. But the operation also won’t end until quiet and security are returned to the citizens of Israel for an extended period of time,’ Netanyahu said in a written statement, reports The Jerusalem Post.

Netanyahu convened a security meeting at southern military headquarters with Israel defense minister Moshe Ya’alon, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz, and other security personnel on Monday.

‘We have no intention to harm civilians in Gaza. It is clearly Hamas who has harmed these civilians and who has also prevented humanitarian aid from reaching them,’ the prime minister added.

BDST: 2141 HRS, AUG 04, 2014