Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains adamant about a possible retaliatory strike against Iran in response to Tehran's recent attacks on his nation.

The Israeli government has held a series of cabinet meetings to discuss their response.

Netanyahu said at one meeting on Wednesday that "the state of Israel will do whatever is necessary to defend itself."

ABC News on Wednesday cited a senior US official as saying that Israel is unlikely to carry out a strike on Iran until after the Jewish holiday of Passover.

The holiday begins on Monday, April 22, and ends on April 29.

But the official reportedly added, "that could always change."

The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that Tehran has begun evacuating personnel from sites in Syria, citing Syrian and Iranian officials.

As regional tension rose, the chief of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees called for more humanitarian assistance for people in the Gaza Strip.

Speaking to the UN Security Council on Wednesday, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said, "Across Gaza, a man-made famine is tightening its grip."

He also said, "In the north, infants and young children have begun to die of malnutrition and dehydration."

Though the conflict between Israel and Iran is drawing more attention from the international community, how to halt fighting in Gaza and stop the humanitarian situation from deteriorating still need to be addressed.