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OPT: Israel army chief says big Gaza push more likely

TEL AVIV, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Israel's army chief said on Wednesday that daily strikes against Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip were having an impact but a big military offensive was becoming more likely.

Speaking at a conference in Tel Aviv on security issues, Lieutenant General Gabi Ashkenazi said that daily Israeli incursions into the coastal territory were hurting militants but could not be decisive in curbing attacks against Israel. "We are operating in Gaza on a daily basis. Yesterday we returned from a broad operation ... this brings a reduction in the ground threat and the firing of rockets but does not stop it," Ashkenazi said. "We will come to the point where we will have to carry out the big operation."