Israel foiled Hamas terrorist attacks from the air and sea Tuesday as the country’s military prepared for a large-scale ground war in the rapidly escalating conflict with Palestinian militants, authorities said.
Hamas fired multiple rockets at Tel Aviv and Jerusalem — the deepest strikes yet during the recent conflict.
But Israel’s “Iron Dome” defense system intercepted the Tel Aviv rockets and they exploded before striking the city, about 45 miles north of the Gaza Strip.
Air-raid sirens also wailed across Jerusalem as four explosions could be heard in its downtown.
Israeli Channel 10 TV said one rocket hit a house near Jerusalem, but there were no reported injuries.
The military also prevented an attempt by militants in the Gaza Strip to infiltrate southern Israel by sea.
A military spokesman said four attackers, armed with hand grenades and assault rifles, were killed shortly after coming ashore in the first such infiltration attempt in recent memory.
Israel fiercely struck back in a deadly day of fighting, attacking roughly 150 sites in Gaza with rockets that killed at least 19.
The White House, meanwhile, condemned the Hamas attacks and vowed support for Israel’s right to defend itself.
“We strongly condemn the continuing rocket fire inside of Israel and the deliberate targeting of civilians by terrorist organizations in Gaza,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest said. “No country can accept rocket fire aimed at civilians and we support Israel’s right to defend itself against these vicious attacks.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the army to prepare to call up 40,000 reservists for a possible ground offensive into Gaza.
“We won’t tolerate rocket fire on our cities and communities,” Netanyahu said in televised comments. “We will do everything necessary so the quiet that prevailed here for years can continue.”
The military said the open-ended operation aims to deliver a blow against the Hamas Islamic extremists, and end the rocket fire that has reached deeper into Israel.
The army said there were no immediate plans to call up the 40,000 troops, but that they would be activated depending on operational needs.
Israel has already mobilized about 1,500 residents.
The rocket attacks and Israeli counter-strikes have intensified in recent weeks as tensions have soared over the killing of three Israeli teenagers and the apparent revenge killing of a Palestinian teen allegedly by three right-wing Jewish suspects.
The military said more than 120 rockets hit Israel over the past two days, a dramatic spike after nearly two years of relative quiet that followed a previous Israeli campaign to root out Gaza rocket launchers.
Israel targeted the homes of several Hamas operatives believed to be behind the rocket fire.
Military officials said they also struck militant compounds, concealed rocket launchers and other infrastructure sites.