Israel declares

combat zone

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — The Gaza Health Ministry says the death toll in Gaza has surpassed 63,000 as Palestinians face the start of Israel’s expanded offensive in Gaza City.

The count does not distinguish between fighters and civilians killed in the 22-month war between Israel and Hamas. The ministry says five people have died from malnutrition-related causes over the past day, raising the toll to 322, including 121 children, since the war began.

A military official says Israel intends to continue helping aid reach Gaza City during the offensive, but a U.N. humanitarian group fears “a horrific impact” on people already deprived of basic needs.

Minneapolis boy

asked for prayer

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Stories of bravery and heartache are emerging after the deadly shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic church during a Mass celebrating the start of the school year. Friends say one girl was wounded while shielding her buddy as her father, the school’s gym teacher, helped usher kids to safety. The aunt of a 13-year-old boy who is recovering after being shot twice says he asked a doctor to pray with him as he was rushed into surgery. The shooting Wednesday morning left two students dead and 20 people wounded, nearly all of them children. At least five children and one adult remain hospitalized Friday.

US redistricting

fight expands

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo (AP) — Missouri’s Republican governor is calling a special legislative session to redraw the state’s U.S. House districts. The announcement Friday by Gov. Mike Kehoe comes as President Donald Trump has been urging Republican-led states to reshape district lines to give the party a better shot at retaining control of Congress in next year’s elections.

It came hours after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law a new U.S. House map that gives the GOP a chance at winning five additional seats. Democratic lawmakers in California have countered with a redistricting plan giving Democrats a chance at winning five more seats there. The California plan still needs voter approval.

Visas revoked

for Palestinians

WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Marco Rubio has revoked the visas of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and 80 other officials ahead of next month’s annual high-level meeting of the U.N. General Assembly.

A State Department official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss visa issues that are normally confidential, disclosed Friday that Abbas and other officials from the Palestinian Authority were among those affected.

The Palestinian Authority denounced the visa withdrawals as a violation of U.S. commitments as the host country of the U.N. and urged the State Department to reverse its decision.