Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman. Photo: Jonathan Klinger via Wikimedia Commons.

“Talk to me about [former Hamas Prime Minister Ismayil] Haniyeh at the end of my term,” Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman told Facebook followers on Sunday, during a live chat with the public, Israel’s Channel 2 reported.

Lieberman was responding to a social media user’s challenge about why he hadn’t kept his promise that as soon as he took over the Defense Ministry last May, Israel would eliminate the terrorist organization official. “The trick is to act responsibly,” Lieberman replied. “We have been conducting a new policy against Hamas in a responsible and determined way. Anyone observing our responses [to Hamas actions] can see that…”

Lieberman was apparently hinting at Friday night’s assassination in Gaza of Mazen Fuqaha, a top commander of Hamas’ military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, who was killed outside his Gaza City home by a bullet to the head. Hamas immediately accused Israel of being responsible and threatened retaliation, but Israel has refrained from comment.