Senior Hamas terrorists warned Monday that they would increase their efforts to attack Israelis if Israel were to delay in accepting the group’s request for a temporary ceasefire. Hamas officials have demanded that Israel stop its counterterrorism operations in Gaza for six months in exchange for a six-month pause in rocket and mortar shell attacks.

IDF officers have expressed concern that the ceasefire would allow Hamas to rearm, thus endangering Israeli civilians. Government officials said Monday that they would not accept the ceasefire deal without the release of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit.