Gaza's Civil Defense announced Wednesday that it has halted its operations in northern Gaza following the arrest of five personnel and the targeting of three others by Israeli forces. It also said that its only fire engine in the region was destroyed, describing the situation as “catastrophic.”

Israeli military forces besieged hospitals and shelters for displaced people in the northern Gaza Strip on Monday as they stepped up their operations, preventing critical aid from reaching civilians,

Israel continued its operations in Gaza and Lebanon after Hamas leader and Oct. 7, 2023 attack mastermind Yahya Sinwar was killed in a firefight.

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken is expected to depart on Monday in a renewed effort to bring calm to the region. The State Department did not say which other countries he might stop in.