Israel-Gaza – live: Israeli military ‘take control of Rafah crossing’ as Hamas accepts ceasefire deal

Israeli forces have taken control of the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing, which borders Egypt in southern Gaza, Israel’s Army Radio reported.

This comes as prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said that his war cabinet had approved continuing an operation in Rafah.

A few hours earlier, Hamas announced it had accepted a ceasefire proposal put forward by mediators Egypt and Qatar. A ceasefire would end seven months of war in Gaza but a deal is uncertain after Israel responded by saying the proposal did not meet its “core demands”.

Meanwhile, US president Joe Biden warned Netanyahu against launching an offensive in Rafah as both leaders face growing public pressure to reach a ceasefire deal.

“The president doesn’t want to see operations in Rafah that put at greater risk the more than a million people that are seeking refuge there,” White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said.

More than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war that started after Hamas launched an attack on Israel on 7 October killing 1,200 people.