It May Be Time to Take Them Out

Hamas claimed responsibility today for the murder of eight Jewish religious students in Jerusalem. The victims were mostly teenagers with some as young as 15.

From the Telegraph:

Hamas militants have claimed responsibility for the murder of eight young students at a Jewish religious school in Jerusalem yesterday.

An official, who wished to remain anonymous, from the Palestinian Islamist movement said: "The Hamas movement announces its full responsibility for the Jerusalem operation. The movement will release the details at a later stage."

A Hamas radio presenter backed up the claim. He said the group's military wing had "promised a jolting response" to this week's violence in the Gaza Strip in which more than 120 Palestinians were killed by the Israeli military, many of them in the northern Gaza town Jebaliya.

The radio referred to the Jerusalem attack as "the fruits of what happened in Jebaliya" and called on believers to "celebrate this victory against the brutal enemy."

Israel is still trying to validate the claims.

If they are able to confirm that Hamas was the perpetrator of the crime or assisted in any way, it will be time for a major escalation of military operations in Gaza and the West Bank, up to and possibly including the ouster of Hamas in a defensive military action.

The sovereign state of Israel has the right and responsibility to protect its citizens.