Oil prices settled higher today, garnering support from middle east tensions but a stronger dollar gave prices a ceiling. Israel stepped up air strikes on Rafah on Thursday after saying it would evacuate civilians from city in southern Gaza and launch an assault if no progress was made on the hostages. “Israel is not afraid to come and support themselves on their own if they have to, people are watching to see what happens between Netanyahu and Biden,” said Tim Snyder, chief economist at Matador Economics. Israel stepped up air strikes on Rafah on Thursday after saying it would evacuate civilians from city in southern Gaza and launch an all-out assault despite allies’ warnings that doing so could cause mass casualties. “Israel is not afraid to come and support themselves on their own if they have to, people are watching to see what happens between Netanyahu and Biden,” said Tim Snyder, chief economist at Matador Economics. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told Reuters on Thursday that U.S. GDP growth for the first quarter could be revised higher, and inflation will ease after a clutch of “peculiar” factors held the economy to its weakest showing in nearly two years. WTI traded up $.28 or .34% to close at $83.35. Brent traded up $.49 or .55% to close $89.50.