Hamas fighters seek to block Israeli advance on Gaza City

GAZA/JERUSALEM, Nov 2 (Agencies): Israeli tanks and troops pressed towards Gaza City on Thursday but met resistance from Hamas militants using mortars and hit-and-run attacks from tunnels as the Palestinian death toll from nearly four weeks of bombardment climbed above 9,000.
The Gaza Strip's main population centre in the north has become the focus of attack for Israel, which has vowed to annihilate the Islamist group's command structure and has told civilians to leave.
"We are at the gates of Gaza City," Israeli military commander Brigadier General Itzik Cohen said.
Hamas and allied Islamic Jihad fighters were emerging from tunnels to fire at tanks, then disappearing back into the network, residents said and videos from both groups showed.
"They never stopped bombing Gaza City all night, the house never stopped shaking," said one Palestinian man, asking not to be identified by name. "But in the morning we discover the Israeli forces are still outside the city, in the outskirts and that means the resistance is heavier than they expected."
Bahrain's lower house of parliament announced Thursday the halting of economic ties with Israel and the return of ambassadors on both sides over the Israel-Hamas war, although there was no government confirmation.
Israel's foreign ministry said it had not been notified of any decision by Bahrain. If confirmed, it would be the first such move by one of Israel's Arab Gulf allies.
"The Council of Representatives confirms that the Israeli ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain has left Bahrain, and the Kingdom of Bahrain decided to return the Bahraini ambassador from Israel to the country," a statement said.
Report from Washington adds: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken Thursday started his second crisis trip to the Middle East as he renews support for Israel but also seeks subtly to encourage the US ally to limit civilian deaths that have outraged much of the world.
Blinken will spend the day Friday in Israel -- his fourth visit since the October 7 Hamas assault, including a trip to accompany President Joe Biden -- and also head to Jordan and potentially other stops before a previously scheduled trip to Asia.
The United States is the foremost supporter of Israel and has promised to ramp up military assistance as Israel wages a retaliatory campaign against Hamas, even as a rising number of US allies accuse it of a disproportionate response.
Biden on Wednesday said he supported a humanitarian "pause" in the Gaza conflict, but the United States remains opposed to calls for a ceasefire, saying that Hamas has no intention of holding fire.