Israel's Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres, in an interview with the CNN on Sunday, said that Israel will prosecute the captured Palestinian government ministers and lawmakers suspected of participating in the kidnapping of an Israeli soldier.

"They will be put to trial, and they will be accused of participating, supporting terroristic acts against the civilian government," Peres said.

As Israeli helicopters struck the Gaza office of the Hamas prime minister Ismail Haniya early Sunday morning, Peres said this was not an attempt on his life but "a clear warning."

Peres also said that Israel is not trying to topple the Hamas government.

"We are trying to topple down the policies of this so-called government, which are policies of terror," Peres said.

After the kidnapping of an Israeli soldier by Palestinian militants on June 25, Israel has detained scores of Hamas members in the West Bank, including eight ministers and more than 20 lawmakers.

Source: Xinhua