JERUSALEM

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on Israelis to remain “patient and level-headed,” as Tel Aviv has been on high military alert amid concerns of a potential Iranian attack following last week’s assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.  

Netanyahu visited the Israeli army's induction base in Tel Hashomer, north of Tel Aviv, where he met with military recruits, according to a statement from his office. 

“I know that the citizens of Israel are concerned, and I ask one thing of you: Be patient and level-headed. We are prepared both defensively and offensively,” said Netanyahu. 

His visit to the base came a day after it was stormed by dozens of ultra-Orthodox Jews, or Haredi, who opposed the army sending draft orders to members of their community for mandatory military service after they had been exempted for decades.

Iran and Hamas have accused Israel of carrying out Haniyeh’s assassination, while Tel Aviv has not confirmed or denied responsibility.

Lebanese group Hezbollah has also threatened to retaliate against Israel over the assassination of its senior commander Fouad Shukr in an Israeli strike in Beirut’s southern suburbs on July 30.

Fears have grown about a full-blown war between Israel and Hezbollah amid a months-long exchange of cross-border fire.

The escalation comes against the backdrop of an Israeli onslaught against the Gaza Strip which has killed more than 39,600 victims since October following an attack by the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas.   

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala in Istanbul