Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his country is keeping up its war in Gaza but is bracing for strikes in other areas amid the possibility of Iranian retaliation following an airstrike on Iran's Embassy in Syria.

Netanyahu said, "Whoever harms us, we will harm them," when he visited an air base in central Israel on Thursday. He said Israel is prepared to meet all of the security needs of the country.

The possibility of an Iranian attack follows an airstrike on the Iranian Embassy in Damascus on April 1. Seven military officers, including Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commanders, were killed, along with six Syrian civilians. Iran blames Israel for the attack and is expressing an intention to retaliate while Israel has not claimed responsibility.

Bloomberg earlier cited multiple officials as saying the US and its allies believe strikes by Iran or its proxies against military and government targets in Israel are imminent.

Meanwhile, hundreds of people in Jerusalem protested the withdrawal of most of Israeli forces from southern Gaza. Israel says that is part of preparation for ground offensives in Rafah. Protesters chanted, "Start the ground operation in Rafah now."

One of the protesters said it was wrong to withdraw troops from southern Gaza. He said Israel must keep fighting Hamas until hostages are released and security is restored.