Israeli forces pierced deeper into the Gaza Strip as part of a new phase of the war, an incursion into the enclave’s south after aerial and ground attacks in the north. The Israeli army is present “in the heart of the Khan Younis region” in southern Gaza, as well as the Jabalya and Shejaiya regions in the north, said Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman, who leads the Israel Defense Forces’ southern command. Palestinians in southern Gaza — many of whom came from the north after Israel said the south would be safer — say they have few safe places left to flee. The Biden administration imposed visa restrictions on “extremist settlers” from Israel, as well as Palestinians, “involved in or meaningfully contributing to actions that undermine peace, security, and stability in the West Bank.”
