JERUSALEM (AFP) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday threatened to teach Gaza's ruling Hamas movement a lesson "very soon" following a surge in militant rocket attacks on the Jewish state.

"We foil terrorist attacks when we identify that they are in the making and we respond against those who attack us," Mr Netanyahu was quoted as saying by his spokesman, Mr Ofir Gendelman.

"If Hamas and the other terror organisations forgot this lesson, they will learn it again the hard way and very soon," he said.