MK Motti Yogev (Jewish Home) on Thursday issued a warning to Hamas, suggesting that the Gaza-based terrorist group not test Israel’s patience.

Yogev spoke to Arutz Sheva amid an escalation in southern Israel, where earlier on Thursday terrorists fired mortar shells at IDF forces on the Israeli side of the border, hours after the discovery of a Hamas terror tunnel into Israeli sovereign territory.

“Hamas continues its tunnels terrorism, and it is clear that it is in our interest to take away this ability of Hamas. I think Hamas has understood Israel’s deterrence,” he said, adding that he believes that in the coming days it will become clear whether Israel will be forced into another round of fighting in Gaza.

“If Hamas wants to live in peace with us – we are in favor of peace, but so long as there is an escalation and they attempt to hurt us, they will feel the strength of the IDF. I suggest that they not try it again,” warned Yogev.

The MK also responded to the firestorm surrounding the remarks of IDF Deputy Chief of Staff Yair Golan, who asserted during a Yom Hashoah ceremony that he recognizes in Israel today processes similar to those that occurred in Nazi Germany, before clarifying his comments.

“The Deputy Chief of Staff is a very important officer who works hard day and night for the security of Israel and cannot be judged based on one remark,” said Yogev, though he stressed that Golan “was wrong because there are no processes similar to Nazi processes, definitely not in Israel.”

“His second error was that he made his remarks on a day in which the people of Israel should be united,” added Yogev.