An unnamed Israeli official told CNN that Israel's renewed strikes on Gaza, which claimed well over 200 lives, were "preemptive" and aimed against what was described as Hamas' "readiness to execute terror attacks, build up force and re-arm."
He said the strikes targeted "mid-ranking military commanders, leadership officials and terrorist infrastructure." Israel's strikes will continue "as long as necessary and will expand beyond airstrikes," the official said.
The official declined to elaborate on the aforementioned claims made against Hamas so as not to "hand out information to the enemy."
