US maintains hope Rafah crossing will open today
White House officials hope the Rafah crossing at the border with Egypt can still be opened for a few hours later today.
This would allow some people to leave Gaza before an expected Israeli ground offensive, spokesman John Kirby told CNN.
Washington and Cairo had struck a deal to allow foreign nationals to flee through Egypt if humanitarian aid was allowed into Gaza.
Reports suggested there may be a ceasefire in southern Gaza to allow the deal to take place, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu poured cold water on the idea this morning.
Hamas went further, saying no ceasefire was taking place, nor would the border crossing open.
Officials in Egypt and the Embassy of Palestine representative for Rafah said yesterday the crossing would open this morning at 9am (7am UK time), but civilians remain gathered at the closed gates.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) has released bodycam footage of a Hamas militant, who it said infiltrated the country on 7 October.
In the clip, a group of armed militants attack an Israeli community.
The video emerged following Israel’s warning that it is preparing to launch a ground offensive in Gaza after carrying out days of airstrikes in the strip.
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