Hamas warns Israel of large-scale offensive on Gaza

Gaza, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Islamic Hamas movement warned Israel on Monday of a large-scale military offensive on the Gaza Strip, in which the movement has been ruling since 2007, in response to earlier rocket attack into Israel.

Fawzi Barhoum, Hamas movement's spokesman in Gaza, said in a press statement that "if the Israeli occupation commits any stupidity against Gaza and its resistance, the cost will exceed all its evaluations."

"The occupation (Israel) will find itself facing a fierce resistance that has been ready for this day and in a complete alert to get involved in the battle of deterrence and the battle of defending our people," Barhoum said.

Earlier, seven Israelis were injured and severe damage was caused to several houses in the Hasharon area north of Tel Aviv in central Israel after a long-range rocket was fired from the Gaza Strip into central Israel.

The Israeli cabinet had approved earlier on Monday a military operation against militant groups all over the Gaza Strip. No one claimed responsibility for the rocket attack.

The last large-scale offensive was waged on the Gaza Strip during the summer of 2014 and went on for 50 days, leaving more than 2,000 Palestinians killed and severe destruction in the enclave's housing and infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the Joint military Chamber of Operations in Gaza, which includes armed wings of various factions headed by Hamas, said in an emailed press statement that Israeli targets will be under the Palestinian resistance's fire if the "Israeli occupation committed any stupidity against our people."

"Our militants will strongly respond to any strike that targets buildings or people and their properties. The occupation's strikes will be confronted with immediate strikes," the statement said.