TEL AVIV—Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu scrambled Monday to contain the fallout from a security operation in the Gaza strip that left multiple people dead, including senior members of Israel’s military and officials from Gaza’s ruling party, Hamas.
The foray into Gaza late Sunday—described by Israel as an intelligence-gathering mission gone wrong—set off the worst outbreak of violence there in weeks and threatened fragile cease-fire talks that had been gaining momentum between Israel and Hamas. However, the bitter enemies appeared ready for a quick end to hostilities and the Israeli-Gaza border was relatively calm Monday.
The intense battle on Sunday opened a rare window into secretive Israeli operations in Gaza. It also drew questions about Israel’s objectives, coming in the midst of multilayered peace talks aimed at defusing several months of violence between Israel and Gaza.
According to Hamas, a gunbattle erupted after members of its military wing noticed a team of Israeli special forces entering southern Gaza near the city of Khan Yunis in a civilian car on Sunday night. The Israeli soldiers retreated to the border under intense cover fire from Israeli aircraft and were whisked away in a helicopter. Israel later blew up the civilian car that the unit drove into Gaza, Hamas said.
At least seven Palestinian militants were killed, and seven others injured, during the gunfight. An Israeli lieutenant colonel was killed and another Israeli officer was injured.
Gaza militants retaliated, firing at least 17 rockets into Israel, the Israeli military said.
Israel’s military said its air force carried out a rescue mission. Ronen Manelis, Israeli army spokesperson, told an Israeli radio station that the operation was planned “despite efforts for a settlement [with Hamas].”
Israel’s military said the operation was a routine mission intended to gather intelligence, not capture or kill Palestinian adversaries. Such operations “are just the tip of activities performed on a regular basis that are intended to preserve [Israel’s] operational superiority,” the Israeli army told The Wall Street Journal in an emailed response.
The operation presents a new challenge for Mr. Netanyahu—who cut short a trip abroad to address the situation. The prime minister is trying to strike a balance between demands within his cabinet to deal a mortal blow against Hamas and his desire to prevent a war with Gaza, which would be the fourth since the Islamist group took power in 2007.
Tensions between Israel and Hamas have flared since March, when Gazans began weekly protests at the border fence demanding the right to return to land that is now in Israel, which Israel says would threaten its Jewish majority. Israeli fire has since killed more than 200 people, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
Israel says the demonstrations are often violent and that it must use live fire to protect its border from infiltrations and its people from attacks launched into Israel. Gazans have torched thousands of acres of Israeli farmland with improvised incendiary devices floated over the border on balloons and kites.
Egypt, Qatar and the United Nations have stepped up efforts to broker a lasting cease-fire between Israel and Hamas.
In recent days, monitored by Egyptian officials, the border protests have become less violent. Gazans have also credited improved living conditions for the reduction in violence.
Last week, Mr. Netanyahu allowed Qatar to transfer $15 million to Gaza via Israel to pay the salaries of Hamas government workers—helping to relieve Gaza’s depressed economy. Qatar also paid for fuel to power Gaza’s only power plant, which provided residents with 16 hours a day of electricity, something they haven’t had for five years.
Israeli cabinet members, including Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, criticized the prime minister for the unusual step. Mr. Lieberman has called for war with Hamas to end months of violence against the Israel.
In Paris for Armistice Day events with world leaders, Mr. Netanyahu told journalists Sunday before the raid that the additional aid was meant to alleviate a humanitarian crisis in Gaza and prevent a war.
“I am not afraid of war if it’s necessary, but I want to avoid it if it’s not necessary,” Mr. Netanyahu said.
--Abu Bakr Bashir in Gaza City contributed to this article
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