"There is a clear message here to Hamas - if you join in the violence and the firing, [Yahya] Sinwar and [Mohammed] Deif, they will be the first targets we will work to eliminate," Katz told Kan 11 News.
"[Monday night’s elimination of Islamic Jihad leaders] was an exceptional action carried out by the defense establishment and the IDF with the backing of the Shin Bet. The decision was made a week ago immediately after the rocket fire on Sderot. The target was completely clear and the defense establishment gathered the intelligence material and prepared for an operation," he continued.
Katz added that "our policy is very clear: we will not put up with harming Israeli citizens and we will not allow threats against them. If they try to harm us, they will be harmed much more severely."
"We are preparing for the possibility of one response or another and will retaliate accordingly and will not allow harm to civilians," he concluded.
