from BBC
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel will launch an invasion of the southern Gaza city of Rafah regardless of truce talks with Hamas.
It comes amid ongoing attempts to try to reach an agreement for a ceasefire and hostage releases.
But at a meeting of hostages' relatives, Mr Netanyahu said he would invade "with or without" a deal.
His comments follow renewed warnings by the US against a Rafah invasion unless civilians were properly protected.
In a phone call with Mr Netanyahu on Sunday, US President Joe Biden "reiterated his clear position" on Rafah, a White House statement said. Mr Biden has previously described an invasion of Rafah as a "red line".
On Tuesday, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said an assault on Rafah would be an "unbearable escalation", appealing for "all those with influence over Israel to do everything in their power to prevent it".
More than half of Gaza's 2.5m population is in Rafah, having fled there to escape fighting in other parts of the territory. Conditions in the overcrowded city are dire, and displaced people there have spoken of a lack of food, water and medication...
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