Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that Israel is trying to “achieve a state of deterrence against Hamas” to end the hostilities that have killed 229 people on both sides, but hasn’t ruled out “other options” — which include conquering Gaza.

“We’re not standing with a stopwatch. We are taking care of the operation’s objectives,” Netanyahu told foreign journalists, adding that no timeframe can be announced for the end to the fighting, the Times of Israel reported.

He made the remarks after briefing diplomats from the US, the European Union, Russia, China, India, Germany, Austria, Australia, Japan, Brazil, Canada, Italy and other countries at Tel Aviv’s Kirya military headquarters.

Netanyahu added that the origin of the current conflict is the cancellation of the Palestinian elections.

“Hamas used the events of Jerusalem Day and the situation in Sheikh Jarrah to serve its own political interest,” he said, adding that Israel is “doing everything” to minimize civilian casualties.

On the operational side, more than 50 Israeli jets dropped about 120 bombs to destroy 7.5 miles of Hamas tunnels in Gaza in the fifth round of airstrikes against the sprawling complex, the news outlet reported, citing Israel Defense Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Hidai Zilberman.

The IDF also said it struck multiple targets in the upscale Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City, an area where many top Hamas commanders live.

Meanwhile, Gaza militants fired several rockets at southern and central Israel late Tuesday and early Wednesday, with Hamas claiming it also targeted Israeli air force bases.

“The bases that the Al Qassam Brigades targeted are Hatzor, Hatzerim, Nevatim, Tel Nof, Palmachim, and Ramon,” Hamas said in a statement, according to the Times of Israel.

Zilberman said Wednesday the IDF had no indications that a rocket struck any of its air bases, adding that a projectile landed in an open field well outside the Tel Nof base near Rehovot.

About 50 rockets were fired toward Israel from Gaza from Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, with 10 of them landing inside the Palestinian enclave.

No injuries or damage was reported in the latest attacks, indicating that the remaining 40 rockets were either intercepted by the Iron Dome aerial defense system or landed in open areas, according to the outlet.

Since the beginning of the fighting May 10, Hamas has fired almost 3,700 rockets at Israel.

According to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, 219 Gazans have been killed since the fighting began, including 63 children. It said 1,530 people have been wounded.

Israel has said at least 150 of the fatalities were members of Palestinian terror groups, adding that many of the civilian casualties resulted from errant Hamas rockets.

On the Israeli side, 12 people have died, including a soldier and a 5-year-old boy.

Israel and Hamas have both denied that a cease-fire agreement has been reached for Thursday as the US increases pressure on the two sides to halt the fighting, i24news reported.

Several reports have emerged suggesting that Israel and Hamas would put a halt to the bloodshed following mediation efforts by Egypt, according to Hebrew-language broadcaster Channel 12.

According to the station, Hamas agreed to the terms of the cease-fire deal, while Jerusalem has yet to respond. But soon after news of the purported deal became public, each side began issuing denials.

“No agreement or specific timings for the cease-fire were reached,” a Hamas spokesperson said in a statement, according to i24news.

“While emphasizing that the efforts and contacts of the mediators are serious and continuous, the demands of our people are clear and well-known,” it added.

But despite the denials, senior Israeli officials have signaled to local media that the fighting is nearing a close.