Israeli forces intensify strikes on Rafah city
Russia exports more crude in Feb after refinery attacks
US sanctions firms, tanker over Russia price cap violation

SINGAPORE, Feb 9 Reuters Oil prices were little changed on Friday, staying on track for weekly gains, with tensions persisting in the Middle East after Israel rejected a ceasefire offer from Hamas.

Brent crude futures slipped 6 cents, or 0.1, to 81.57 a barrel by 0728 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 2 cents to 76.24 a barrel.

Both benchmarks rose about 3 in the previous session as Israeli forces bombed the southern border city of Rafah on Thursday after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a proposal to end the war in the Palestinian enclave.

The tensions have kept oil prices elevated, with Brent and WTI both set to gain more than 5 for the week.

The move yesterday seemed a bit excessive on the back of not very much, at least in terms of fundamentals, ING39;s head of commodities research Warren Patterson said.

I still expect the rangebound trading that we have become accustomed to recently will continue given the comfortable oil balance.

U.S. officials made their most pointed criticism so far of Israel39;s civilian casualties in Gaza as it turned the focus of its offensive to Rafah.

A Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo on Thursday for ceasefire talks with mediators Egypt and Qatar.

While the conflict has propped up prices, there has been no impact on oil production….