Samy Abu Zohri, a spokesman of Hamas, said Deputy Prime Minister Silvan Shalom has threatened to launch a large military campaign in Gaza Strip to bring down Hamas.

The Israeli officials' statements add another piece of evidence to the current Israeli escalation in Gaza. Israeli Radio quoted Salom saying whether rocket attacks continue or not, there will be a large, inevitable campaign to bring down Hamas in Gaza. Shalom emphasized that "terrorism leaders" should be targeted.

Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing for Islamic Jihad, has taken responsibility for launching a Grad rocket at Beir El Saba in the south of Israel. Another local rocket was launched toward a nearby kibbutz.