Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to President Joe Biden’s call for an immediate de-escalation of violence in Gaza by saying Israel’s military operations will continue until “its goal is achieved,” meaning that the nation is safe, the Washington Post reports.

“I especially appreciate the support of US President Joe Biden, for the right to self-defense for the State of Israel,” Netanyahu tweeted Wednesday. “I am determined to continue this operation until its goal is achieved, to restore peace and security to you, the citizens of Israel.”

An unnamed senior military source said that Israel had destroyed 80 rocket launchers and killed at least 130 Hamas militia so far, meaning that more than 100 of the Palestinian dead were civilians.  At least 64 children have been killed in the attacks, according to local health officials.

The Israeli military official said Israel has a “factory of targets” to hit, amassed by Israeli intelligence and targeted for when the “opportunity” arose to attack.  “We are assessing whether the achievements are enough to bring the message to Hamas,” he said. “We can go more days, more weeks.”

The source said a cease fire would be called when Netanyahu, Defense Minister Benny Gantz and Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi decide on the “right time.”

Israeli Defense Forces said 52 warplanes had dropped about 120 munitions on approximately 40 underground Hamas targets in Rafah, near the Egyptian border, and Khan Younis, the Palestinian enclave’s second-largest city.  According to reports, 227 of the Palestinian dead were in Gaza, while another 17 were in the West Bank.

In the ten days since the fighting began, Hamas has fired more than 4,000 rockets into Israel, with 600 landing short of their targets.  Israel claims 90% of the rockets that have reached its airspace have been intercepted by its Iron Dome defense system.