Israel PM vows ‘destructive’ response to Hamas

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday warned Palestinian resistance group Hamas of “destructive and painful response”, according to The Jerusalem Post newspaper. 

“There may be someone in Gaza who thought they could raise their head, we are ready for any scenario and escalation,” Netanyahu said during a visit to a military base in southern Israel. 

“I suggest that they understand that the response will be destructive and very painful,” he said. 

On Tuesday, Israel carried out airstrikes in Gaza that targeted a Hamas post, saying the attacks came after shots were fired at Israeli troops near Israel-Gaza buffer zone. 

The Israeli premier went on to describe Iran as the “principal enemy” of Israel. 

“Iran is building up forces around us. They built a forward fortification in Lebanon through Hezbollah, a southern fortification in Gaza through Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and now they want to establish a third fortification across from the Golan,” he said. 

“We are committed to fighting against all of that. The Israeli army is the only army in the world fighting Iran, and is doing so in Syria,” Netanyahu said. 

Last week, Netanyahu admitted that Israel had attacked Iranian and Hezbollah targets in Syria. 

Israel frequently accuses Tehran of exploiting the ongoing conflict in Syria -- where Iran supports the ruling Assad regime -- to establish a permanent military presence near Israel’s border.