Netanyahu visits his troops and harangues them before his powerful offensive in Gaza: "Are you ready for the next phase?"

The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, visited the Beeri and Kfar Azza kibbutzim behind closed doors this Saturday for the first time since the massacre committed by Hamas last weekend against its residents, a direct trigger of the current war in Gaza.

Netanyahu has examined the homes destroyed both by the raids of Hamas militiamen and by the rockets of his militias launched from the Gaza Strip and has met with the Israeli military in the area, including the commander of the Parachute Brigade, Colonel Ami Biton, reports the Yedioth Aharonoth.

In his meeting with the military, broadcast from his office, Netanyahu told the soldiers that “the continuation of the offensive (against Hamas) is underway. Are you ready for the next phase?” among the prospects of a possible large-scale ground incursion into the Gaza Strip, the first since the 2008 Operation Cast Lead.

Netanyahu's visit took place amid a new rocket alert in the center of the country, in towns such as Petah Tikva, Yehud-Monoson and Or Yehuda.. Likewise, Hamas has announced a new attack against the Ben Gurion international airport and a new barrage of rockets towards Ashdod and Ashkelon, with no reports of casualties so far.

The Israeli Government has been the subject of harsh criticism from the opposition, which has denounced the complete lack of preparation of the authorities in the face of the unprecedented attack by Hamas.

Right now, Israel is under an emergency government thanks to the agreement between Netanyahu and the now minister without portfolio Benny Gantz, who has also visited the southern towns and promised to do everything possible to find those missing and kidnapped by Hamas.

“I know it takes time and that reality is difficult and indescribable. “We will invest every effort possible in every possible channel,” Gantz said.