The U.S. is ramping up its military presence in the Middle East by deploying additional defensive resources as concerns grow.

The Hamas terrorist group has promoted the mastermind of the Oct. 7 attack on Israel to be its new leader.

Yael Arad, president of the Israeli National Olympic Committee, told the Associated Press her country's athletes are just there to compete.

It is also likely to provoke Israel, which has put him at the top of its kill list after the Oct. 7 attack.

The United Nations said Monday it has fired additional staff members from its agency for Palestinian refugees after an internal investigation.

Israeli attacks in Gaza have not let up, including an air strike at a school being used as a shelter.

Israel is already in a "multi-front war" with Iran and its proxies, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a Cabinet meeting Sunday.

Israeli strikes killed 18 people in Gaza early Sunday, while a stabbing attack by a Palestinian killed two people in a Tel Aviv suburb.