WASHINGTON — President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair are teamed up against much of the world again, this time in their refusal to criticize Israel's offensive against Hezbollah guerrillas in southern Lebanon or to call for an immediate cease-fire in the Mideast fighting.

The deteriorating crisis that has claimed hundreds of lives — mostly Lebanese civilians — was sure to dominate talks today between the allies.

"You know, there are a lot of common interests that they have," White House press secretary Tony Snow said Thursday. "Obviously, there will be discussions on the Middle East."

Bush and Blair come together at the White House as consultations continue on a possible international peacekeeping force to stabilize the more than two-week-old situation and supplement the Lebanese army. State Department counselor Philip Zelikow is working in Brussels with European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana and there were plans for meetings at the United Nations.

Meanwhile, two U.S. Mideast envoys were holding diplomatic talks in the region and there has been speculation that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice would return there over the weekend.

Snow said it was likely Bush and Blair would discuss strategies for ending the crisis, including proposals for the makeup and mandate of a peacekeeping force and for humanitarian and reconstruction aid for Lebanon.

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Israeli troops withdrew from northern Gaza early today after a bloody two-day sweep that killed 29 Palestinians, the deadliest violence since Israel's incursion began more than a month ago.Residents streamed outside before dawn to inspect the damage, and rescue workers found the body of a militant killed in the fighting. Militants removed mines and explosives they had planted to try to stop the Israelis.A rocket attack, meanwhile, wounded two Israeli children hit by shrapnel in the southern Israeli town of Zikim, Israeli rescue services said. The militant group Islamic Jihad said it launched the rocket.Israel's army and air force have killed more than 100 Palestinians since it started attacking the Gaza Strip to stop militants from firing rockets at southern Israel.Five Palestinians were killed Thursday, including a 75-year-old woman and a 12-year-old boy, who was killed by Israeli gunfire as he stood on the roof of his house at the edge of the Jebaliya camp, residents and hospital officials said.The Gaza incursion began after Hamas-linked militants killed two soldiers and captured a third in a cross-border raid June 25.A Hamas political leader Osama al-Muzaini said the ruling militant group would not release the Israeli soldier, Cpl. Gilad Shalit, until Israel releases Palestinian prisoners first.