The IDF responded to Hamas elections and the election of terrorist Ismail Haniyeh to lead the terror organization.

Haniyeh previously headed Hamas' military wing, but was replaced in February 2017 with freed terrorist Yahya Sinwar.

Sinwar was released together with 1026 other terrorists as part of the 2011 "Shalit deal."

Responding to the elections, IDF spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lerner tweeted, "#Hamas elected a new leader. Time for promise & hope?"

"I hope (Haniyeh) makes good decisions for the Palestinians he aspires to lead."

#Hamas elected a new leader. Time for promise & hope? I hope #Haniyeh makes good decisions for the Palestinians he aspires to lead. https://t.co/tSfObnNIdW

— Peter Lerner (@LTCPeterLerner) May 6, 2017

Haniyeh is unique in that he is the first Hamas leader to be located in Gaza itself since the assassination of Hamas founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin in 2004.

In January 2016, Haniyeh unashamedly confirmed that Hamas is building terror tunnels into Israel.

"In east Gaza there are heroes digging tunnels under the ground and in the west there are those testing rockets. The Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades are digging tunnels to defend Gaza and turn it into a launch pad for all of Palestine," Haniyeh bragged.