Gold extended gains on Friday, inching closer to the key $2,000 an ounce psychological level, as fears of a further escalation in the Middle East conflict fed bullion's safe-haven appeal.
Spot gold was up nearly 0.4% at $1,980.79 per ounce, after hitting its highest since May earlier in the session. U.S. gold futures added 0.6% to $1,992.60.
Israel levelled a northern Gaza district after giving families a half-hour warning to escape, and hit an Orthodox Christian church where others had been sheltering, as it made clear that a command to invade Gaza was expected soon.
"People fluttered into gold and found a sense of safety amid geo-political risks. If there is an escalation in the Middle East conflict, gold prices will push through $2,000," said Phillip Streible, chief market strategist at Blue Line Futures in Chicago.
Gold has risen 2.9% this week, and added nearly $160 since the onset of the conflict.
On the technical front, "failure to trigger a long overdue consolidation and correction back down towards $1,946 could see prices move higher to eventually challenge resistance around $2,075, the nominal record high from 2020," Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank, wrote in a note.
Traders also digested comments from Fed Chair Jerome Powell on Thursday, who left open the possible need for more rate hikes -- which would increase the opportunity cost of holding zero-yield bullion -- but also noted emerging risks and a need to move with care.
In physical markets, gold dealers in India were forced to offer steeper discounts as a jump in domestic prices slowed demand ahead of a key festival.
Silver rose 1.4% to $23.36 per ounce, platinum gained 0.5% to $895.45. Both were set for their second consecutive weekly rise.
Palladium dropped 1.01% to $1,102.32, but headed for its fourth straight weekly decline.