From the Liveblog of
Thursday, May 5, 2022
Israel said to warn Hamas chief in Gaza of potential retaliation for encouraging terror
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Israeli officials have indirectly warned Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar of possible retaliation following a series of recent terror attacks, Channel 12 news reports.
According to the network, diplomatic and security officials relayed the message to Sinwar via mediators of unspecified origin before three Israelis were killed by terrorists in Elad last night. The officials reportedly said Hamas’s claim of responsibility for the deadly shooting attack in Ariel and Sinwar’s speech urging Palestinians and Arab Israelis to commit terror mean Israel has freedom of action in the Gaza Strip.
The report said the officials also clarified to Sinwar that they consider him a terror instigator and will respond accordingly.
Meanwhile, an unnamed Israeli security official tells the Haaretz daily that no organizational link has been found between the Elad assailants and Hamas, but they are believed to have been influenced by his call to carry out attacks against Israelis.
The Times of Israel Community.