Home minister Hamzah Zainudin said the ministry was taking the security threat posed by Israel seriously.

However, he urged the public to remain calm, saying “the security situation is under control and remains at a good level”.

Hamzah said the government reaffirmed its stand to continue to support the aspirations and struggles of the Palestinians.

According to broadcasts on Israeli television, Israel’s intelligence agencies had been ordered to kill Hamas leaders inside Gaza and outside the Palestinian territories.The reports said the agencies would “neutralise targets” in countries such as Iran, Qatar, Turkey and Malaysia.