Heavy smoke billows from the Lebanese southern border village of Kfarkela after it was targeted by Israeli shelling, July 29, 2024. /CFP
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday vowed a "severe" response to a deadly strike that killed youths in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, as diplomats raced to contain escalation between Israel and Hezbollah.
On a visit to the site of the rocket strike which killed 12 children in the town of Majdal Shams, Netanyahu said, "The State of Israel will not, and cannot, let this pass. Our response will come and it will be severe."
Israel and the United States have blamed the strike on the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, which has traded near-daily fire with Israeli forces since the Israeli-Hamas conflict began last October.
Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib said a flurry of diplomatic activity has sought to contain the anticipated Israeli response.
"Israel will escalate in a limited way and Hezbollah will respond in a limited way. These are the assurances we've received," Bou Habib said in an interview with local broadcaster Al Jadeed.
The United States, France and others were trying to contain the escalation, Bou Habib added, while Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said, "Talks are ongoing with international, European and Arab sides to protect Lebanon and ward off dangers".
Hezbollah has denied responsibility for the Majdal Shams rocket attack, though the group claimed multiple strikes on Israeli military positions that day.
Devastated buildings in central Gaza, July 28, 2024. /CFP
On Monday, Hezbollah said it had launched "dozens of Katyusha rockets" at an Israeli military site following the killing of two of its fighters.
The cross-border violence has already killed more than 500 people in Lebanon, most of them fighters, and dozens of civilians and soldiers on the Israeli side.
Hezbollah has said its attacks are in support of Hamas, and they would stop if a ceasefire is reached in Gaza.
Months of efforts have failed to secure a ceasefire and hostage release deal, while Israel and Hamas traded blame on Monday over the lack of progress.
Hamas accused Netanyahu of adding new conditions and demands to a U.S.-backed truce proposal. Netanyahu, however, denied making any alterations and said Hamas was the one insisting on numerous changes to the original proposal.
"The negotiations on the main issues will continue in the coming days," an Israeli statement said.
On the ground in Gaza, the Israeli military said its forces were continuing "precise" operations in the Rafah area and in nearby Khan Younis, where troops had "eliminated dozens of terrorists."
Israeli aircraft struck 35 targets across Gaza in 24 hours, the military added.
In the territory's north, Hamas's armed wing said its fighters were "engaging" Israeli troops in Gaza City's Tal al-Hawa district, where witnesses reported shelling.
Israel's military campaign in Gaza has killed at least 39,363 people, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.
(With input from agencies)