Israeli forces carried out massive airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, dropping 153 tons (337,307 pounds) of bombs in retaliation for what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed was a cease-fire violation by the Palestinian group Hamas.
"One of our hands holds a weapon, the other hand is stretched out for peace," Netanyahu told lawmakers in the Knesset on Monday. "You make peace with the strong, not the weak. Today Israel is stronger than ever before."
Israel said the strikes came after two of its soldiers were killed in an attack on Sunday that it blamed on Hamas. The Palestinian group, however, denied any involvement in the incident.
Israel's military said in a statement that the strikes targeted Palestinian resistance members in the Rafah area who had allegedly opened fire on its soldiers. It said the attacks destroyed tunnels and military buildings.
Netanyahu said Israel would retaliate forcefully to Hamas attacks on its soldiers.
