US envoy to Mideast blasts Hamas for igniting conflict with Israel

Jason Greenblatt said that the current escalation “is the Hamas regime’s choice,” adding that the terror group is “subjecting people to the terrifying conditions of war again.” 

By: World Israel News Staff

Jason Greenblatt, assistant to President Donald Trump and Special Representative for International Negotiations, condemned Hamas for “subjecting people to the terrifying conditions of war again.”

“Hamas regime again is launching rockets at Israeli communities.  Another night of terror & families huddling in fear as Israel defends itself,” he tweeted Thursday.

“This is the Hamas regime’s choice.  Hamas is subjecting people to the terrifying conditions of war again,” he added.

Hamas terrorists fired over 180 rockets at Israel on Wednesday, repeatedly setting off Red Code alerts that sent them running for cover.

The Iron Dome defense system intercepted 30 rockets, while several of the explosive projectiles fell inside Israeli towns, causing several injuries, some of them serious, and extensive damage.

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) responded by attacking over 150 Hamas terror targets throughout the Strip, including a cement factory used by Hamas to build terror tunnels, a maritime terror tunnel shaft, a weapons manufacturing and storage facility, and several terror sites in military compounds.

A senior IDF officer told Ha’aretz that Israel is on the verge of a major military operation in Gaza.

“The end of another night of escalation is not in sight,” the unnamed officer said. “Hamas chose to step away from the [ceasefire] arrangement and now it will pay the price for its violations over the past four months. Hamas is about to be dealt a major blow for its decision.”

The officer did not rule out the possibility that a number of communities in the south situated up to four kilometers from the border – some 30,000 people – would be evacuated.