Middle East conflict live updates: Israel’s military chief warns that Iran will ‘face consequences’ for attack

Israel’s war cabinet reconvened Monday to discuss its response to the Iranian attack, government spokesman David Mencer said, adding that “Israel retains all its options.” Halevi said Israel was closely assessing the situation and “will choose our response accordingly.”

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby described speculation that Iran’s attack was meant to fail as “categorically false” and “malarkey,” in a White House news briefing. “This attack failed because it was defeated by Israel [and] the United States,” Kirby said. He also denied that Iran had given Israel or the United States advance warning of its attack.

Avichay Adraee, the IDF’s spokesman for Arab media, warned Gaza residents to avoid returning to the north of the Strip, saying the area remained “a dangerous combat zone.”

Negotiations on a cease-fire deal in Gaza have stalled. Over the weekend, Hamas rejected the latest Israeli offer for a pause in its offensive in exchange for the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza since Oct. 7. In a statement, Hamas said again that it wants a permanent cease-fire and a withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

At least 33,797 people have been killed and 76,465 injured in Gaza since the war began, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants but says the majority of the dead are women and children.

Israel estimates that about 1,200 people were killed in Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack, including more than 300 soldiers, and says 260 soldiers have been killed since its military operation in Gaza began.