Israel's defense ministry said on Thursday it had secured an $8.7 billion aid package from the United States to support the country's ongoing military efforts, including upgrading air defense systems.

"The package includes $3.5 billion for essential wartime procurement ... and $5.2 billion designated for air defense systems, including the Iron Dome, David's Sling and an advanced laser system," the ministry said in a statement.

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas called Thursday on the international community to stop sending weapons to Israel in order to halt bloodshed in the West Bank and Gaza.

"Stop this crime. Stop it now. Stop killing children and women. Stop the genocide. Stop sending weapons to Israel. This madness cannot continue. The entire world is responsible for what is happening to our people in Gaza and the West Bank," Abbas said in an address to the U.N. General Assembly.

An elderly French woman was killed this week when her home collapsed following an explosion in south Lebanon, the French foreign ministry said Thursday, as Israel presses a deadly air campaign against Hezbollah.

"We are sorry to announce the death on Monday of an 87-year-old fellow countrywoman in a village near the city of Tyre. The building where she lived collapsed following a large explosion nearby," the ministry said.

The Israeli military said Thursday its latest strike on south Beirut killed Mohammad Srour, the head of Hezbollah's drone unit, who a source close to the group had earlier said was the target.

"Following precise intelligence guidance from the Air Force and the Intelligence Division, fighter jets targeted and eliminated (Srour), the commander of Hezbollah's air unit, in Beirut," a military statement said.

The Israeli military said on Thursday that its fighter jets struck infrastructure on the Syria-Lebanon border used by Hezbollah, as cross-border attacks continued amid calls for a ceasefire.

"A short while ago, (Israeli air force) fighter jets struck infrastructure along the Syria-Lebanon border used by Hezbollah to transfer weapons from Syria to Hezbollah in Lebanon, which the terrorist organization used against Israeli civilians," a military statement said.

Israel flatly rejected on Thursday a push led by key backer the United States for a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon, as it vowed to keep fighting Hezbollah militants "until victory".

Israeli aerial bombardment of Hezbollah strongholds around Lebanon has killed hundreds of people this week, while the militant group has hit back with barrages of rockets.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday his government had not responded to a push by the United States and its allies for a 21-day ceasefire in Israel's fight with Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.

"It is an American-French proposal, which the prime minister has not even responded to," said a statement from Netanyahu's office, adding that he had ordered the army "to continue the fighting with full force".

Qatar, a mediator in the Gaza war, said on Thursday there was no direct link between talks for a truce in Gaza and an international push for an immediate ceasefire between Lebanon's Hezbollah and Israel.

"I'm not aware of a direct link, but obviously both mediations are hugely overlapping when you are talking about the same parties, for the most part, that are taking part," foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari told reporters.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Wednesday that the Middle East was facing a "full-scale catastrophe" and warned Tehran would back Lebanon by "all means" if Israel escalated its offensive against Hezbollah.

"The region is on the brink of a full-scale catastrophe. If unchecked, the world will face catastrophic consequences," he said at the United Nations, adding that Iran would "stand with the people of Lebanon with all means."

The Israeli military said on Thursday it hit around 75 "Hezbollah targets" in Lebanon during the night, including ammunition depots of the Lebanese armed group.

"Overnight, the IDF (Israeli military)... struck approximately 75 terror targets" belonging to Hezbollah "in the area of Bekaa and in southern Lebanon, including weapons storage facilities, ready-to-fire launchers" as well as militants and other infrastructure, the military said in a statement.