Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, refrained from calling for retaliation in carefully prepared statements about Israel’s attack on his country.

“The evil actions of the Israeli regime two nights ago should neither be exaggerated nor underestimated,” Khamenei said. “The Israeli regime’s miscalculations must be overturned. “It is very important to ensure that they understand the power, will and initiative of the Iranian nation and youth.”

His comments show that he is carefully considering Iran’s response to the attack. While the Iranian military has already said a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip or Lebanon would trump any retaliatory strikes against Israel, Iranian officials have also said they reserve the right to respond.

Khamenei added that “it is up to the authorities how to transfer the power and will of the Iranian people to the Israeli regime and to take steps that will serve the interests of this nation and country.”

Trump and Harris responded at rallies

Former President Donald Rump and his election rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, briefly responded to the attack at their respective rallies, though their tones were very different.

“Israel is attacking — we have a war going on, and he’s going to the party,” Trump said at a rally in Michigan on Friday, while Harris held an event with Beyoncé in Texas.

Meanwhile, Harris called for “decreasing tensions, not increasing activities in that region.”

“I feel very strongly that we, as the United States, believe that Iran must stop what it is doing in terms of the threat it poses to the region, and we will always defend Israel against such attacks by Iran.” he told reporters in Michigan.

Israeli attacks in northern Gaza continue

Israeli strikes on northern Gaza late Saturday killed at least 22 people, mostly women and children, according to Palestinian officials; Israel’s offensive in the hard-hit and isolated north is entering its third week and aid groups are describing it as a humanitarian disaster.

The emergency service of the Gaza Ministry of Health said that 11 women and two children were among the 22 people killed in the attacks on many houses and buildings in the town of Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza. It was stated that 15 more people were injured and the death toll may increase. The names of those killed, mostly from three families, were listed.

The Israeli military said it carried out a precision attack on militants in a structure in Beit Lahiya and took steps to avoid harming civilians. He disputed what he called “the figures published by the media” without going into detail or providing evidence for his own statement.

Israel has been carrying out a major air and ground attack in northern Gaza since October 6, claiming that Hamas militants have regrouped there. Hundreds of people were killed and tens of thousands of Palestinians fled to Gaza city in the latest wave of displacement of the year-long war.

Aid groups warned that a catastrophic situation could occur in northern Gaza, which was the first target of Israel’s ground operation and suffered the heaviest destruction of the war. Israel has severely limited the entry of essential humanitarian aid in recent weeks, and three remaining hospitals in the north (one of which was raided over the weekend) say they are overwhelmed by waves of injured people.

On Saturday, the International Committee of the Red Cross said Israel’s ongoing evacuation orders and restrictions on the entry of essential supplies into the north had left the civilian population in “terrible conditions”.

“Many civilians are currently unable to move, trapped by conflict, destruction or physical limitations, and no longer have access to even basic medical care,” the statement said.