Israel vows to press on in Gaza after Iran’s missile and drone attack
- Israel’s military says Hamas holding hostages in Gaza’s Rafah, presses on with ‘critical mission’
- Iran’s drone and missile attack was revenge for an air strike on its embassy grounds in Damascus on April 1
Israel struck war-battered Gaza overnight, Hamas and witnesses said Monday, as world leaders urged de-escalation awaiting Israel’s reaction to Iran’s unprecedented attack that heightened fears of wider conflict.
World powers have urged restraint after Iran launched more than 300 drones and missiles at Israel late Saturday, though the Israeli military has said nearly all were intercepted.
Tehran’s first direct assault on Israel, in retaliation for a deadly April 1 strike on its Damascus consulate, followed months of violence across the region involving Iranian proxies and allies who say they act in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with his war cabinet on Sunday, but no decision has been made on how or when Israel could respond to the Iran attack, local media said, reporting another meeting planned later on Monday.
Tensions in Iran “weaken the regime and rather serve Israel”, the newspaper Israel Hayom said, adding that this suggested Israeli leaders would not rush to retaliate.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has warned that a “reckless” Israeli move would spark a “much stronger response”, while foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said Monday that Western nations should “appreciate Iran’s restraint” in recent months.