Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the country would give a “harsh” response to those it believes responsible for the deadly strike on Golan Heights, reports The Guardian.

"The state of Israel will not and cannot let this pass. Our response will come, and it will be harsh," he said according to a statement from his office released following a visit to Majdal Shams, the site of the strike.

On July 27, the Majdal Shams region in the north of the Golan Heights was hit by rockets. As a result, 12 people died, mostly children and teenagers, who were on a football pitch at the time of the strike, which Israel blames on the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

But Hezbollah denied any involvement in the attack, saying it was caused by an interceptor missile fired from Israel's Iron Dome air defense system.

On July 28, Israel's politico-military cabinet authorized Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to decide on retaliatory measures following the strike on Majdal Shams.