In response to an IDF operation on Thursday morning which killed at least five Hamas operatives and one Islamic Jihad gunman, Hamas accused Israel of perpetrating a massacre. "Every day Israel perpetrates massacres as a result of its political crises and internal security," Hamas spokesman Fauzi Brahum said. "Israel conducts assassinations because it wants to cover up its many different failures, especially those connected to the Winograd report and the release of the kidnapped soldiers." Brahum went on to accuse the US government of cooperating with the "crimes of Israel." "The Americans participate with the Israeli occupier to carry out plans to destroy and to kill the Palestinian people," the Hamas spokesman said. However, in light of recent IDF activity in the Gaza Strip, Hamas has strengthened its resolve to continue on the path of military resistance, Brahum said.