## The US and its allies plan fresh sanctions against Iran
The United States and its allies are planning to impose new sanctions against Iran in response to its recent attack on Israel. The attack, which caused no deaths and little damage thanks to the air defenses and countermeasures of Israel and its allies, has nonetheless increased fears that the violence rooted in the six-month-old Gaza war is spreading.
The US is planning to impose new sanctions targeting Iran's missile and drone program in the coming days, and expects its allies to follow suit. The European Union is also considering expanding its sanctions regime against Iran to include the provision of missiles and deliveries to Iranian proxies in the Middle East.
The international community is hoping that these sanctions will dissuade Israel from a major escalation in its response to the attack. Israel's war cabinet is set to meet for a third time on Wednesday to decide on a response.
## Israel's war cabinet to meet for a third time
The Israeli government source said the war cabinet session scheduled for Tuesday had been put off until Wednesday, without elaborating. The war cabinet is expected to discuss a range of options, including a major military response.
However, the US and its allies are urging Israel to exercise restraint. President Joe Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the weekend that the United States would not participate in an Israeli counter-strike. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also told Netanyahu that escalation in the Middle East was in nobody's interest.
## The prospect of Israeli retaliation has alarmed many Iranians
The prospect of Israeli retaliation has alarmed many Iranians, who are already enduring economic pain and tighter social and political controls since major protests in 2022-23.
Iran launched the attack in retaliation for an airstrike on its embassy compound in Damascus on April 1, which was attributed to Israel. However, Iran has signaled that it now deems the matter closed.
## The war in Gaza has already claimed the lives of more than 33,000 Palestinians
The war in Gaza has already claimed the lives of more than 33,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health ministry figures. The war began after Hamas, the Iranian-backed Palestinian militant group that runs Gaza, attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and taking 253 hostages, by Israeli tallies.
The international community is calling for an end to the violence and a return to negotiations.