Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon warned the Hamas terror group on Saturday night against further escalations, following a spate of violence over the weekend.

On Friday night Hamas terrorists fired four rockets into Israel, from the Gaza Strip. Hours later, Israeli fighters bombed four Hamas targets inside Gaza.

Hamas claimed that two civilians were killed in the strikes, and on Saturday the terror organization threatened further attacks on Israel.

“The blood of the children killed in the Zionist raid will not flow in vain,” Hamas warned in a statement.

Ya’alon responded to the comments, noting that Israel was capable of inflicting serious damage on Hamas.

During an event in Tel Aviv honoring wounded IDF veterans, Ya’alon pointed out that despite the terror organization’s rhetoric, it was Hamas that initiated the violence.

“Just yesterday we saw once again proof that [hostile] states, organizations, and groups seek to harm us just because of who we are,” Ya’alon said, referencing attacks by Hamas and renewed threats by Iran.

Israel’s military response in Gaza, Ya’alon pointed out, “came when a terror group running wild in the Gaza Strip fired rockets at Israel.”

Ya’alon emphasized that Israel would not tolerate rocket fire into its territory, and would respond to Hamas attacks with military force.

“We won’t tolerate attempts to disrupt life in southern Israel. That’s why we responded last night with force against Hamas assets in the Strip; and we know how to hit a lot harder if the attacks continue. Hamas runs Gaza and as far as we are concerned, it is responsible for any attacks emanating from there.”