Israel-Gaza updates: 22, including 18 children, reported dead in Rafah strikes

The IDF says it struck military targets of terrorist organizations in Gaza.

Israel launched a retaliatory strike against Iran early Friday morning local time, a senior U.S. official told ABC News.

The strike followed Iran's attack on Saturday, when Tehran sent a volley of more than 300 drones and missiles toward targets in Israel, according to Israeli military officials. All but a few were intercepted by Israel and its allies, including the United States, officials said.

Iran's weekend attack came more than six months after Hamas terrorists invaded Israel on Oct. 7, after which the Israeli military began its bombardment of Gaza.


What to know about Iran's attack on Israel

Israeli officials said the country's Iron Dome defense system endured a big test from Iran's attack on Saturday, intercepting 99% of the 300 "threats of various types" thrown at it.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, according to Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Daniel Hagari, launched 170 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), more than 120 ballistic missiles and more than 30 cruise missiles in the attack.

Hagari said "99% of the threats launched towards Israeli territory were intercepted -- a very significant strategic achievement."

Hagari said the attack resulted in only one known Israeli casualty, a 7-year-old girl who was severely injured when she was struck by shrapnel apparently from an intercepted missile.


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Congressional party leaders reach 'consensus' on aid to Israel and Ukraine, Schumer says

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said that during a Sunday call between President Joe Biden and congressional leaders there was "consensus" that Congress needs to act quickly to send aid to both Israel and Ukraine.

Schumer said at a news conference in New York that "hopefully" something can be accomplished this coming week to aid both countries.

Earlier Sunday, Biden spoke to Senate Majority Leader Schumer, House Speaker Mike Johnson, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Schumer said the best way to send aid to Israel and Ukraine is for the House to take up and pass the Senate-approved national security supplemental that includes aid to both countries. The Senate passed the $95 billion package in February, but Johnson has not brought it to the floor for a vote.

"The best way to help Israel rebuild its anti-missile and anti-drone capacity is by passing that supplemental immediately. As I said, Israel expended about over a billion dollars in defending itself and the security supplemental would replenish the kind of anti-missile and anti-drone defenses that are in the Arrow, in the David's Sling, and in the Iron Dome," Schumer said.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said in a statement Saturday that the House would change its legislative schedule this week to "consider legislation that supports our ally Israel and holds Iran and its terrorist proxies accountable," but it's not yet clear what legislation that will be, or how drastically it might depart from the Senate-passed bill.

-ABC News' Allison Pecorin and Rachel Scott


Minor damage reported at 2 Israeli air bases

At least nine Iranian missiles that breached Israel's air defenses struck two of Israel's air bases, but no significant damage was reported, a senior U.S. official told ABC News.

Five ballistic missiles hit the Nevatim Air Base, damaging a C-130 transport aircraft, an unused runway and empty storage facilities, the official said. Four additional ballistic missiles hit the Negev Air Base, but there were no reports of significant damage, the official said.

A spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces said earlier Sunday that 99% of the 300 "threats of various types" Iran launched at Israel, including 120 ballistic missiles and more than 30 cruise missiles, were intercepted by Israel's air defense system and Israeli Air Force fighter jets, as well as "aerial defense systems and aircraft of our partners."

-ABC News' Martha Raddatz


US would not participate in Israeli response against Iran, defense and security officials say

While the Biden administration remains committed to defending Israel, top administration defense and security officials made it clear Sunday the U.S. would not be a part of any Israeli response.

"We believe Israel has freedom of action to defend itself, in Syria or elsewhere. That's a long-standing policy and that remains," a senior official said. "But no, we would not envision ourselves participating in such a thing."

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant Sunday afternoon, according to a U.S. official who described the exchange as “direct.” The official said Austin told Gallant that while the U.S. will continue to defend Israel, it does not envision being part of offensive operations against Iran.

A senior administration official also said President Joe Biden stressed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a call Saturday night that Israel had prevailed against Iran's strike against Israel.

Watch more:

-ABC News' Mary K. Bruce


Biden speaks with Jordanian king as G7 leaders condemn Iranian attack

President Joe Biden and Jordanian King Abdullah II spoke on the phone Sunday about Iran's attack on Israel, according to the White House.

The two leaders discussed Iran's "unprecedented attack" on Israel, the White House said without elaborating.

Earlier Sunday, Biden met with G7 leaders, who jointly condemned Iran's attack on Israel.

"We, the Leaders of the G7, unequivocally condemn in the strongest terms Iran’s direct and unprecedented attack against Israel. Iran fired hundreds of drones and missiles towards Israel. Israel, with the help of its partners, defeated the attack," the G7 leaders said in a joint statement.

The statement added, "We express our full solidarity and support to Israel and its people and reaffirm our commitment towards its security."

The G7 leaders said the actions of Iran "further stepped toward the destabilization of the region and wrists provoking uncontrollable regional escalation."

"We demand that Iran and its proxies cease their attacks, and we stand ready to take further measures now and in response to further destabilizing initiatives," the statement said.

-ABC News' Michelle Stoddart


Biden calls for cease-fire 'now' to get aid into Gaza in Univision interview

President Joe Biden called for an immediate cease-fire to get food and aid into Gaza in an interview airing Tuesday night on Univision.

"So I what I'm calling for is for the Israelis to just call for a cease-fire, allow for the next six, eight weeks total access to all food and medicine going into the country," Biden said in the interview with Univision's Enrique Acevedo. "I've spoken with everyone from the Saudis to the Jordanians to the Egyptians. They're prepared to move in. They're prepared to move this food in. And I think there's no excuse to not provide for the medical and the food needs of those people. It should be done now."

Biden did not mention tying the cease-fire to a hostage deal, according to a transcript of the interview, which would be a shift for the administration. ABC News has reached out to the White House for comment.

Last week, officials pushed back on suggestions that they were separating calls for a cease-fire from hostage negotiations in their readout of Biden's call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"Our conviction remains that we need to see an immediate cease-fire to enable the release of hostages but also to enable a dramatic surge in humanitarian assistance, as well as obviously better protecting civilians," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on April 4.

In the Univision interview, Biden also called Netanyahu's approach in Gaza "a mistake" when asked if he believed the prime minister was "more concerned about his political survival than he is in the national interest of his people" as calls for Netanyahu's resignation have increased following the strike that killed seven World Central Kitchen workers.

"Well, I will tell you, I think what he's doing is a mistake. I don't agree with his approach. I think it's outrageous that those four, three vehicles were hit by drones and taken out on a highway where it wasn't like it was along the shore, it wasn't like there was a convoy moving there, etc.," Biden said in the interview.

The hour-long interview, which is airing at 10 p.m. ET, was taped a day before Biden's call with Netanyahu on April 4.

-ABC News' Molly Nagle