The State Security Cabinet gave the go-ahead to extensive airstrikes in the Gaza Strip in case Palestinian militants renew rocket fire into Israel, but no ground incursion is expected.
"Hamas must be dealt a heavy blow, and yet, everyone understands our limitations. We have no desire for large wars," officials said at the need of a two-hour emergency meeting. "Obviously, we will pay a certain price but they will pay a heavier price. We hope that everything will end by Eid al-Fitr in two or three days."
Officials also estimated that Hamas will renew rocket launches in the evening hours.
The decision came against the backdrop of multiple rocket salvos fired from the Palestinian territory into Israeli soil. The barrages followed days of clashes between Israeli police and Palestinians in Jerusalem and other locations across the country.
Spokesman for the military wing of Palestinian Islamic Jihad Abu Hamza threatened Israel Monday evening that rocket fire will be renewed at 9pm.
Israeli Air Force fighter jets struck targets in the northern Strip in response. Palestinian sources said that nine people had been killed in the airstrikes, including three children.
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Israelis take cover as sirens blare in Jerusalem due to Gaza rocket fire
(Photo: Gil Yochanan)
Israel's Channel 12 TV quoted the IDF as saying, however, that the children were killed when a rocket intended for Israel misfired. Channel 12 also reported that one of the casualties was a senior official for the Hamas military wing.
Behind the scenes, efforts were already underway by international mediators to bring a ceasefire.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday evening that the Biden administration has serious concerns about the escalating violence in Israel as tensions simmered with Palestinians in Jerusalem. Psaki added that Washington condemns the rocket fire into Israeli territory.
The UN Security Council held an urgent meeting Monday on unrest in Jerusalem but issued no immediate statement, with diplomats saying the United States believed public comments would be counterproductive.
Negotiations were continuing among the 15 nations on the Security Council on a text that could be watered down from an initial draft proposed by Norway, diplomats said.
The United States, according to one diplomat, said in the closed-door videoconference that it was "working behind the scenes" to calm the situation and that it was "not sure that a statement at this point would help."
The Security Council meeting came after the U.S. national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, telephoned his Israeli counterpart and voiced "serious concerns" about potential Israeli evictions of Palestinians in the holy city that have helped fuel tensions.