Israeli Army Attacks on Gaza and Southern Lebanon Coincide with Netanyahu's 'War Cabinet' Meeting

As Israel bombarded Gaza with airstrikes early Monday and its aircraft targeted southern Lebanon throughout the day, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened a meeting with his senior generals and the 'War Cabinet' to assess the escalation of the conflict. According to Reuters, Palestinian media reported that the Israeli attacks were concentrated in the center and north of the Gaza Strip. Reports indicate that an attack on a house near the 'Jabalia' refugee camp in northern Gaza killed several Palestinians and injured others. The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza, controlled by Hamas, announced on Monday that two Palestinians were killed in the West Bank at the 'Jalazoun' refugee camp near Ramallah. Residents in the area told a Reuters reporter that 'Israeli forces raided the camp and carried out widespread arrests as they clashed with armed individuals and some youths throwing stones.' The Israeli army has not issued a statement regarding this incident. Health officials under Hamas in Gaza stated that at least 4,600 people have died in the two-week Israeli bombardment that began after Hamas militants' terrorist attacks on southern Israel on October 7, which resulted in at least 1,400 deaths and 212 individuals taken hostage to Gaza. The Pentagon is currently deploying a significant naval force, including two aircraft carriers, support ships, and about 2,000 Marines, to help prevent attacks by Iranian-affiliated forces in the Middle East. Lloyd Austin, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, said on Sunday on ABC's 'This Week': 'What we are seeing... is a significant escalation of attacks on our soldiers and people across the region.' According to Reuters, Chinese state media also reported on Monday that 'Zhai Jun,' China's special envoy to the Middle East, who is visiting the region, warned that the risk of a large-scale ground conflict is increasing and that the fighting in the region is 'concerning.' Iranian security officials told Reuters that 'Iran's strategy' is for Middle Eastern proxy forces like Hezbollah to conduct limited attacks on Israeli and U.S. targets while avoiding a major escalation of tensions in Tehran. The Israeli army announced that early Monday, Israeli aircraft targeted two Hezbollah cells in Lebanon that intended to launch missiles and anti-tank missiles at Israel. The Israeli army also stated that other Hezbollah targets, including a compound and a observation post, were attacked. On the other side, Hezbollah, the group affiliated with the Islamic Republic in Lebanon, announced on Monday without providing details that one of its militants was killed. The Israeli army reported that since the outbreak of recent hostilities, seven Israeli soldiers have been killed at the Lebanese border. With increasing violence around its heavily fortified borders, Israel added 14 communities near Lebanon and Syria to its emergency evacuation plan in the north of the country on Sunday. An analysis of images by the Associated Press also confirmed that the cause of the explosion at the Gaza hospital was 'probably' a missile fired from Gaza. A joint statement from six countries regarding the war between Israel and Hamas emphasized Israel's right to defend itself and protect civilians. Documents were released showing Hamas's misuse of civilian centers to attack Israel. American senators in Tel Aviv stated that the destruction of Hamas is non-negotiable.