Israel will continue to do airstrikes in Gaza as long as needed, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday, adding that the country will do its utmost to avoid civilian casualties. This comes amid days of confrontation between Israel and Palestine, the clashes in which at least 149 have been killed in Gaza, including children. In Israel, 10 have died, including 10 children. 

The hostilities between the two sides have now stretched into its seventh day.

Benjamin Netanyahu blamed Hamas for starting hostilities by firing rockets at Israel. In a televised speech, the Israeli PM said, “The party that bears the guilt for this confrontation is not us, it’s those attacking us,” Reuters quoted. 

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“We are still in the midst of this operation, it is still not over and this operation will continue as long as necessary,” the Israeli PM said.

Benjamin Netanyahu said that Hamas “deliberately intends to harm civilians while hiding behind civilians,” and added that “unlike” the Islamist group, Israel is doing “everything, but everything, to avoid or limit as much as possible harming civilians and to directly strike terrorists instead,” quoted Reuters. 

On Sunday morning, Israel’s rocket bombed the home of Hamas’ chief in Gaza, while the Islamist group fired rocket barrages at Tel Aviv. 

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The violence has drawn global attention, as leaders across the world and the UN have called for an immediate de-escalation. The United Nations Security Council is due to meet later on Sunday to discuss the worst clashes between Israel and Palestine in years.