IDF says it’s focused on Islamic Jihad, not Hamas

Military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari says the Israel Defense Forces is still focusing its strikes in the Gaza Strip on the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, despite Hamas’s threats of a unified response.

“We are striking those who are launching rockets at us,” Hagari says in response to a question by The Times of Israel.

“Islamic Jihad is leading this rocket fire. If other factions join, we will respond against them too,” he says.

In a statement, Hagari says 25 percent of the rockets fired from Gaza over the last few hours fell short in the Strip.

He says the operation’s goals were achieved with the assassination of three senior Islamic Jihad leaders on Tuesday morning, but the IDF will continue to strike to prevent rocket fire and deny Islamic Jihad any achievements.

Regarding reports of a potential ceasefire, Hagari says, “We aren’t dealing with ceasefires. We are dealing with defense and offense.”