Hof Ashkelon chairman told Arutz Sheva that his region survives by “sheer miracles,” but added realistically, “we won’t survive” if the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) doesn’t crush the terrorist regime Hamas in Gaza.

“We can hold another month if IDF takes decisive action,” said the Hof Ashkelon Regional Council Chairman Yair Farjoun.

His region has been battered by rockets from the terror enclave of Gaza, and Farjoun emphasised that they cannot continue under the current siege status quo.

“Out of 160 rockets, 60 fell in our territory – that’s a serious blitz,” Farjoun commented about the renewed rocket barrage, which began with a breach of the ceasefire on Tuesday around 4 p.m.

“It’s incredible to see how people live here by sheer miracles; beside a direct hit on a synagogue, rockets have landed just 200 meters (650 feet) from buildings of the Regional Council. There was a full day of very intensive fire.”

Residents will not be able to hold on for many months under the current situation of constant rocket fire, interspersed by temporary lulls broken by renewed rocket salvos.

“We must not enter a state of attrition that could stretch into September and October, because they will continue to produce rockets, and in this way, hold an entire population captive.”

Regarding the future of Operation Protective Edge, Farjoun remarked, “If there will be an order for the army to keep on going and pulverize Hamas until militarily subduing them, we’ll be able to last another month, but if not and it goes on three months, the residents will not be able to survive.”

The call for decisive action raised by Farjoun was heard last Thursday in Tel Aviv, where 10,000 Israelis, including residents of the area surrounding Gaza, called for the government to finish the job in Gaza.

Farjoun praised the IDF for the pre-dawn airstrike Thursday morning that took out three senior Hamas “military wing” Al-Qassam Brigades commanders Mohammed Abu Shamalah, Raed al-Attar and Mohammed Barhum.

—— Psalm 68:

1 Let Elohim arise, let his enemies be scattered; let those who hate him flee before him!

2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melts before fire, let the wicked perish before Elohim!

3 But let the righteous be joyful; let them exult before Elohim; let them be jubilant with joy!

4 Sing to Elohim, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides upon the clouds; his name is YAH, exult before him!