U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is on a two-day trip to Israel as its military intensified attacks on northern Gaza, flattening multiple high-rise buildings and killing at least 13 Palestinians.

Mr Rubio earlier said he would address the Qatar attack with Mr Netanyahu but that it would not shake ties. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

The State Department said Rubio and Israeli leadership will discuss Israel's "goals and objectives" related to an operation to seize control of the Gaza Strip and dismantle Hamas leadership and infrastructure in Gaza City.

The U.N. Human Rights Chief called on Israel to immediately stop its ground assault on Gaza City that got underway on Tuesday, saying that evidence was mounting of war crimes, crimes against humanity and possibly more.

Israel tried to kill the political leaders of Hamas with an airstrike on Qatar. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.