Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu likened Hamas to terror group Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS), calling them "branches of the same tree."
"Hamas is ISIS, ISIS is Hamas," said Netanyahu. "They're the enemies of peace, they're the enemies of Israel, they're the enemies of all civilized countries. And I believe they're the enemies of the Palestinians themselves. And I'm not the only one who believes that."
Netanyahu reacted to the beheading of American journalist James Foley at the hands of ISIL terrorists, saying it "shows you the barbarism, the savagery of these people."
"Well, we face the same savagery," the prime minister continued, referring to Hamas. "People who wantonly rocket our cities and conduct mass killings, and when they can they murder children, teenagers, shoot them in the head. Throw people from the sixth floor, their own people, and use their people as human shields."