Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid and Defense Minister Benny Gantz said the ongoing operation in Gaza will continue "as long as necessary." In a joint statement, the Israeli officials said the army will continue "to strike terrorist targets and operatives, and to thwart rocket-launching squads," DPA reported. Lapid hailed the cooperation between the army, intelligence and ISA. "This was an operational and intelligence effort, and is an extraordinary achievement." Also, Gantza said the Israeli security forces will continue to operate against Islamic Jihad until they restore quiet. For its part, the Palestinian Presidency condemned what it described as the dangerous Israeli escalation against Gaza, saying it crosses all red lines and represents an attempt to push the situation into more tension. Spokesman for President Mahmoud Abbas Nabil Abu Rudeineh urged the international community, especially the US administration, to intervene immediately to stop this Israeli aggression “before it is too late”, WAFA news agency reported.