Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in an affidavit before the Supreme Court, has described as a "liar" the country's internal security chief, whom the government is trying to fire.

Netanyahu's response came almost a week after Shin Bet head Ronen Bar himself made a sworn statement to the court.

It accused the prime minister of demanding personal loyalty and ordering him to spy on anti-government protesters.

Bar's dismissal, announced by the government last month but frozen by the country's top court, triggered mass protests.

The unprecedented move to fire the head of the Shin Bet security agency has been contested by the attorney general and the opposition, which appealed Bar's firing to the Supreme Court.

"The accusation according to which I allegedly demanded action against innocent civilians, or against a non-violent and legitimate protest during the protests of 2023, is an absolute lie," Netanyahu said in his court statement.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for the complete dismantling of Iran's nuclear programme, insisting that any deal with Tehran must also address its ballistic missile capabilities.

"You have to dismantle their nuclear infrastructure and that means ... they will not have the capacity to enrich uranium," he said in a speech in Jerusalem, adding that any deal should also "bring in the prevention of ballistic missiles".

"The real deal that works is the deal which removes Iran's capacity to enrich uranium for nuclear weapons," the Israeli premier said.

"Iran will not have nuclear weapons," he added.

At least 39 Palestinians have been killed and several others wounded in fresh Israeli strikes targeting multiple areas across Gaza, medics have said.

Israeli jets struck Beirut’s southern suburbs after issuing a warning about an hour earlier, marking the third Israeli strike on the area since a ceasefire took effect in late November.

A huge plume of smoke billowed over the area after the strike.

There were no immediate reports of casualties.

The Israeli military has said it intercepted a missile fired from Yemen, where the Houthis claimed responsibility for the launch, saying it targeted an air base in southern Israel.

"The missile that was launched from Yemen was intercepted... prior to crossing into Israeli territory," a military statement said.

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis said they had launched a "hypersonic missile" at the Nevatim air base in Israel's Negev desert.

The Israeli military has ordered residents of Beirut's southern suburbs to evacuate the area, warning of an imminent strike near "Hezbollah facilities" in the area.

"An urgent warning for those in the southern suburbs of Beirut, especially in the Hadath neighbourhood: Anyone present in the building marked in red on the attached map as well as the surrounding buildings, is near Hezbollah facilities," said military spokesman Avichay Adraee on X, adding: "You must evacuate".

At least 30 Palestinians have been killed and several others wounded in fresh Israeli strikes targeting multiple areas across Gaza, medics have said.

Illegal settlers rampaged through Zanuta School south of Hebron city, and stole its contents, a local official says.

The Israeli army will shortly issue an "urgent warning" to residents of southern Beirut, spokesperson Avichay Adraee has said in a post on X, without providing further details.

'Government of Israel continues to block the entry of food and other basics. A manmade and politically motivated starvation', says UNRWA chief.