Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu paid a visit to Israeli forces in southern Gaza as their tanks continued to march towards Rafah.
The visit comes as Netanyahu prepares to address the United States Congress next week in Washington.
The unexpected visit occurred after Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir visited a disputed holy site in Jerusalem the same day.
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Netanyahu's staff publicized the visit after he had left southern Gaza. He said, "Only military pressure helps us advance the hostage deal."
Earlier, the Knesset, Israel's parliament, handily approved a resolution against the establishment of a Palestinian state.
John Kirby, a spokeswoman for the National Security Council, warned Israeli officials should not stoke the flames following Ben-Gvir's visit to the mosque.
“We would continue to urge our Israeli counterparts to do nothing that inflames passions or could lead to or encourage violent activity one way or the other,” Kirby said.
Fighting continued Thursday as 21 people were killed from Israeli bombardment of refugee camps and strikes on Gaza City.
Fighting continued Thursday, with 21 Palestinians dead in Israeli shelling of refugee camps and assaults on Gaza City.
According to health officials, 16 people were murdered in Israeli airstrikes in Zawayda, the Bureij and Nuseirat camps, and the city of Deir al-Balah, which had never been occupied by Israeli soldiers before.
Israel's military stated the airstrikes killed two Islamic Jihad commanders, including one who participated in the October 7, 2023 attack. Palestinian doctors said that the two strikes killed five individuals.
The International Committee of the Red Cross stated Thursday that violence in southern Gaza has driven all health facilities, including a 60-bed Red Cross hospital, to a breaking point in terms of ability to care for patients with potentially fatal injuries.
