Israel unleashes another wave of airstrikes

The Israeli military said its airstrikes Monday destroyed militant tunnels and the homes of nine Hamas commanders as the conflict between Israel and the militant group Hamas continues. At least 212 Palestinians have been killed in the week of airstrikes, while the thousands of rockets launched from Gaza killed ten people in Israel. The latest attacks destroyed a five-story building housing the Hamas-run Religious Affairs Ministry. Israel said the main operations center of Hamas's internal security forces was located in the building. Israeli forces also killed a top Gaza leader of a terrorist group called Islamic Jihad.

How has the United States responded? The White House says it will not pressure the two sides for a cease-fire. Instead, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the State Department is working quietly behind the scenes to bring an end to the fighting. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell on Monday condemned the pressure that other global powers are putting on Israel to end the conflict. He said calling both sides to de-escalate “downplays the responsibility the terrorists have for initiating the conflict.”

Dig deeper: Read Mindy Belz’s report in WORLD on the fears of all-out war in Israel.