Israeli forces today carried out new raids in the Gaza Strip, hours before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was due to address the U.S. Congress. Local Residents said the latest Israeli attacks destroyed homes in towns east of Khan Younis in southern Gaza and thousands of people were forced to head west to seek shelter.

Gaza health officials said Israeli military strikes in the past 24 hours had killed at least 55 people. The latest casualties in a war that health authorities say has killed more than 39,000 Palestinians, so far.  

The Israel leader was due to address Congress later today and to meet President Joe Biden at the White House. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said he would meet Netanyahu in Florida tomorrow.