Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority (PA) before the Hamas military purge in Gaza last June, termed Israel as being "hysterical" for its multiple aerial counter terrorist attacks Wednesday night and Thursday morning. The Israeli Air Force struck various targets seven times, including Hamas Interior Ministry which are directed by Haniyeh.

Hamas said that 13 people were killed, most of them terrorists and three children who were in the area of a Kassam rocket launcher. Hamas also said that a baby killed in the attack on the empty ministry offices.