Israel wraps up major combat in northern Gaza

Palestinians search for bodies and survivors in the rubble after an Israeli airstrike. Pics/AP

The Israeli military signaled that it has wrapped up major combat in northern Gaza, saying it has completed dismantling Hamas' military infrastructure there, as the war against the militant group entered its fourth month Sunday.

The military did not address troop deployments in northern Gaza going forward. Its spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said late Saturday that forces would "continue to deepen the achievement" there, strengthen defenses along the Israel-Gaza border fence and focus on the central and southern parts of the territory.

People check the car in which two journalists were killed in Rafah

The announcement came ahead of a visit to Israel by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Biden administration officials have repeatedly urged Israel to wind down its blistering air and ground offensive.

In recent weeks, Israel had already been scaling back its military assault in northern Gaza and pressing its offensive in the territory's south, where most of Gaza's 2.3 million Palestinians are being squeezed into smaller areas.

Antony Blinken meets Jordan's king

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Sunday with Jordan's king and foreign minister and visited a World Food Program warehouse in Amman. Blinken stressed the need for Israel to adjust its military operations to reduce civilian casualties and significantly boost the amount of humanitarian aid reaching Gaza.

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