The heavy projectile attack on Israeli towns Tuesday morning is a sign that Hamas has “lost control” over the Gaza Strip, IDF Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Ronen Manelis said.
In a series of interviews with Israeli media outlets, Manelis stressed that the IDF will not allow for such attacks to go unanswered. “Whoever carries out acts of terror should know they will face consequences,” he said.
Manelis added that the IDF carried out “the most extensive attack in Gaza since Operation Protective Edge” – the 2014 military conflict between Israel and Hamas – and said the attack “will continue to grow as much as needed.”
“For weeks, (Hamas) has been trying to conduct riots on the border fence and has failed again and again,” Manelis said. “Over the past two weeks, it has been focusing its efforts on carrying out terrorist attacks – gunfire, bombs and other things. And this morning, it allowed the Iranian-backed Islamic Jihad to launch a very serious attack on Israeli towns surrounding Gaza.”
He reiterated that Israel holds Hamas accountable for everything that takes place in the Gaza Strip. “It doesn’t matter who fired, Hamas is responsible and should be held accountable.”
Originally posted at Jerusalem Online.
