Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has declared that Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei "can no longer be allowed to exist" after an Iranian missile struck a hospital in Israel's south.
At least 40 people were reported injured at the Soroka Hospital in Beersheba, the latest Iranian ballistic missile strike to successfully evade Israel's air defences.
"Khamenei openly declares that he wants Israel destroyed — he personally gives the order to fire on hospitals," Mr Katz said at the scene.
"Such a man can no longer be allowed to exist."
When asked about Mr Katz's comments, Mr Netanyahu replied that "no one is immune", but added that "in war, I believe one must choose words carefully and execute actions with precision".
Mr Katz's comments come days after reports that US President Donald Trump vetoed an Israeli plan to assassinate Mr Khamenei during the initial stages of strikes against the regime.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has neither confirmed nor denied the claims, made by anonymous senior officials to multiple news outlets in recent days.
He also vowed to "exact the full price from the tyrants in Tehran" over the hospital strike.
Mr Khamenei, an 86-year-old Islamic cleric, has ruled over Iran since 1989.
Earlier this week, Mr Trump said he would not kill the Iranian ruler "for now" but added that he knew where Mr Khamenei was hiding.
Trump mulls US strikes on Iran
Meanwhile, the US president is expected to make up his mind "within the next two weeks" on whether America will intervene in Iran.
Mr Trump on Wednesday told followers on his Truth Social platform that "nobody knows" what he was going to do.
Israel has been pushing for American strikes in Iran, particularly against the country's Fordow underground nuclear enrichment site which Israeli bombs cannot reach.
The US possesses so-called "bunker-busting" bombs which can penetrate deep underground, and which the Israelis believe would be able to destroy Fordow.
Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel told the ABC's 7.30 Israel was "capable" of taking out Iran's nuclear targets, but that American weapons would accomplish that task "maybe in a shorter time".
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Wednesday echoed calls from other European leaders for de-escalation.
His spokesperson said Britain was working to ensure "de-escalation", and added: "The continuation of the current situation is in no one's interest. We want to see cool heads and a return to diplomacy because that is the best route forward."
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also urged Mr Netanyahu to find diplomatic solutions to the crisis during a phone call on Thursday.
German, British and French foreign ministers are expected to meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi on Friday to discuss potential diplomatic ways out of a wider conflict.
Russia and China sound alarm
The Kremlin released a statement on Thursday, stating both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping "strongly condemn Israel's actions".
China's President Xi Jinping on Thursday called for all parties but "especially Israel" to stop hostilities in a phone call with Russia's Vladimir Putin, Chinese state media reported.
"Parties to the conflict, especially Israel, should cease hostilities as soon as possible to prevent a cyclical escalation and resolutely avoid the spillover of the war," Xi said, according to Xinhua.
Meanwhile, Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova warned that US strikes inside Iran would "be an extremely dangerous step with truly unpredictable negative consequences".
"We would like to particularly warn Washington against military intervention in the situation," she told reporters in Moscow.
Russia is one of Iran's closest and most important allies and have in recent months deepened their military and strategic cooperation.
