'Constant shelling' reported in Gazan city of Rafah as thousands flee

1. People in the southern Gaza city of Rafah say Israeli shelling continues, with tanks massed near built-up areas
2. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees says 80,000 people have left the area since Monday, when Israel warned people to evacuate
3. On Wednesday night, President Joe Biden said the US would not supply weapons to Israel for a major offensive in Rafah
4. Biden says if Israeli troops enter the densely-packed city "we're not going to supply the weapons and artillery shells"
5. On Thursday evening, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu says "if we have to stand alone, we will stand alone"
6. "I have already said that if necessary, we will fight with our nails," he says in a video message

That's all for today

We're pausing our coverage of the Israel Gaza war.

It's been a testing day for the US-Israel relationship after President Biden said the US would not supply weapons to Israel if it carried out a major offensive in Rafah.

To catch up on all the details, you can read the story here.

This page was written by Ali Abbas Ahmadi, Malu Cursino, Gabriela Pomeroy, Johanna Chisholm, Seher Asaf, Emily McGarvey and Emily Atkinson. It was edited by Nathan Williams, Alex Therrien, Aoife Walsh and Sophie Abdulla.

What's been happening?

Thousands have been fleeing Rafah after heavy shelling was reported in the southern Gaza city, with tanks massed near built-up areas. Also:

• Around 80,000 people have fled Rafah since Monday,the UN agency for Palestinian refugees said
• President Joe Biden said the US would not supply weapons to Israel if it launched a major offensive in Rafah - but added it would still give Israel weapons it needed to defend itself
• Israel's ambassador to the UN said the country was "very disappointed" by Biden's comments

• UK Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron said the UK would not support a major Israeli operation in Rafah "unless there was a very clear plan for how to protect people and save lives"
• A Hamas delegation has left ceasefire talks in Cairo to consult the group's leaders in Doha, Qatar, the BBC understands
• There are reports that the Israeli delegation - and the CIA director - have also now left the talks
• On Thursday night, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said "if we have to stand alone, we will stand alone"
• "I have already said that if necessary, we will fight with our nails," he added

EPA

Israeli tanks in southern Israel, near the Gaza border fence, on Thursday

Gantz speaks of 'strategic' partnership between Israel and the US

We've also just been hearing from war cabinet member Benny Gantz who says the partnership between the US and Israel is "a strategic partnership" and "a partnership of values".

"The United States stood with Israel in its most difficult hour, and the attacks on it by irresponsible ministers are ungrateful, intended for domestic needs and stemming from political considerations," Gantz says, referring to earlier comments towards the US by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

"I maintain and will continue to maintain direct dialogue on many sensitive issues that have a dramatic impact on Israel's security, and I believe that important arms shipments will continue," the minister adds.

His remarks follow US President Joe Biden's warning that Washington would halt arms shipments to Israel if it launched a ground offensive in the southern Gazan city of Rafah.

Breaking'If we have to stand alone, we will stand alone' - Netanyahu

Benjamin Netanyahu via X

In the last few minutes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has released a video statement in Hebrew to his account on X.

Here is his statement in full:

"We are on Independence Day’s evening. In the War of Independence, 76 years ago, we were few against many.

"We had no weapons, there was a weapon embargo on Israel, but with the help of our mental powers, heroism and unity within us, we won.

"Today we are much stronger. We are determined, and we are united to defeat our enemies and those who want to harm us.

"If we have to stand alone, we will stand alone.

"I have already said that if necessary, we will fight with our nails.

"But we have much more than nails, and with the same mental powers, with God's help, together, we will win."

Republicans plead with Biden to 'change course' on arms shipments

Bernd Debusmann Jr

US Reporter

Senior Republican lawmakers in the US say withholding US weapons shipments to Israel increases the danger to civilians in Rafah, and will encourage an Israeli operation in the city.

At an ongoing news conference on Capitol Hill, South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham - a vocal critic of Joe Biden - says he is "pleading" with the president to "change course".

"What I fear is that that this decision to withhold weapons has made the likelihood of going into Rafah greater, not less," he says. "It's going to make it longer, not shorter."

Additionally, Graham argues that withholding weapons to Israel will send a message to other US partners - particularly Saudi Arabia - that Washington is an unreliable ally.

"The consequences of this decision, Mr President, are going to change the region and the world for all the worst," Graham adds.

Rafah ground offensive won't defeat Hamas, says John Kirby

EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

We're now hearing more from the US, who say Israel undertaking a major operation in the southern Gazan city of Rafah will not advance Israel or America's objective of defeating Hamas.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby says President Joe Biden does not believe "smashing into Rafah" will advance "that objective".

Kirby says there are better ways to go after what is left of Hamas in Gaza than by launching a major ground operation.

Mother's plan to get child into Egypt stalled at border

One mother, whose son Amin is being treated at al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in central Gaza, tells the BBC Arabic's Gaza Lifeline how her young son was supposed to be transferred into Egypt through Rafah today. Those plans, she says, have now been stalled.

"My son’s health keeps getting worse and worse," the mother says, adding that because of the ongoing situation in Rafah, she was unable to cross the entry point today with her son.

"I have been here struggling for more than three months in al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, staying here where I'm saddened day by day by my son’s condition."

CIA chief Bill Burns and Israeli delegation leave Cairo, reports say

Our correspondent reported earlier that a Hamas delegation had left the ceasefire talks in Cairo to consult the group's leaders in Qatar.

We're now hearing from CNN, citing a source, that US CIA Director Bill Burns - who arrived in the Egyptian capital late last week to help finalise a deal - has also now departed the city.

The Israeli delegation is also on its way back from Cairo, an Israeli official told The Times of Israel.

Which aid crossings are open?

The Israeli military says it has reopened the Kerem Shalom crossing - a key entry point for aid into Gaza, which was closed after Hamas fired rockets towards it on Sunday, killing four Israeli soldiers.

The IDF also says the Erez crossing with northern Gaza was continuing to operate and aid is reported to be moving into the enclave there.

Elsewhere, Israel says its troops have taken control of the Gaza side of Rafah crossing with Egypt. The UN says this is of particular concern because all of its fuel enters there.

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The UN aid agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, says it hasn't received any aid via Kerem Shalom or Rafah crossings.

"We're not receiving any aid into the Gaza Strip, the Rafah crossing area has ongoing military operations - there have been continued bombardments in this area throughout the day," said Scott Anderson, senior deputy director of UNRWA affairs in Gaza.

But an Israeli government spokesman insists aid is getting through Kerem Shalom.

"It is open and I would ask the UN why, day in and day out, there is so much surplus on the Gaza side of Kerem Shalom that is not being distributed," Avi Hyman told a briefing.

'Fleeing to safety without my family'

Poonam Taneja

BBC Asian Network

Daiana Albukhari

As heavy shelling continues in Rafah, one person who has managed to escape to safety in the past week is Daiana Albukhari.

The 22-year-old crowdfunded $12,000 which enabled her to flee to Egypt, where she is currently staying with friends.

She tells BBC Asian Network:

When I crossed the border, the sound of drones started to disappear. I felt something is wrong because I’m out of Gaza, safe and I don't deserve to be."

The feeling of safety has come with an emotional price of leaving her family behind, who are still in Rafah.

"I just feel guilty, I don't deserve all that while my people and family in that situation [are] under bombings," she says.

"I left Gaza because my mum insisted on me leaving. I didn't want to."

Daiana last spoke to her family four days ago, but has "lost connection" since.

'I walked around six kilometres carrying my things with no money'

EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

The UN estimates that tens of thousands of people have evacuated Rafah since Monday after Israeli authorities warned around 110,000 people in the southern border city to Rafah to flee.

Many of those displaced people have been arriving in the city of Al-Mawasi in Khan Younis throughout the week.

Abdullah Yad El Arsha, one of those people who was forced to make the exodos out of Rafah to Khan Younis, shares with the BBC Arabic's Gaza Lifeline how people on the street were charging him exorbitant fees just to make a safe getaway.

"We couldn’t find any transport and the road was full of people. I walked around six kilometres carrying my things with no money. Sellers asked for about 80 to 1000 shekels to transport us from East Rafah to Al-Mawasi Khan Younis."

'Impossible' to bring staff out or into Gaza, medical charity says

Reuters

Sylvain Groulx, an emergency coordinator for Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), says getting staff in or out of Gaza is "impossible".

"At the moment what we are hearing are the daily bombardments, huge bombs and gunfire," Groulx tells the BBC Radio 4's World at One programme.

He says many people in Rafah have been displaced "two, three, four or five times".

UK should follow US weapons threat, MP says

EPA

Military vehicles gather in southern Israel, near the Gaza border

The UK should follow the US in threatening to withdraw military aid to Israel if they begin a ground offensive in Rafah, a Conservative MP has told the BBC.

Speaking to the World at One programme, James Sunderland said the UK needs to review what it is supplying to the country.

Israel's "right to self-defence comes with responsibility", he added.

"The Israelis have been suffering from this proscribed terrorist organisation for a long time. But unchecked anger is a dangerous thing and what the Israelis need to do is remove Hamas as a military, terrorist threat," he said.

He went on to say that Israel must not do this by targeting civilians.

Netanyahu shares speech he gave saying 'no pressure will stop Israel defending itself'

Reuters

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has shared a video of a speech he delivered on Holocaust Remembrance Day, in which he says no international pressure "will stop Israel defending itself".

In the video clip, which is in English and shared on X, the PM says: "Eighty years ago, in the Holocaust, the Jewish people were totally defenceless against those who sought our destruction. No nation came to our aid. Today, we again confront enemies bent on our destruction.

"I say to the leaders of the world: no amount of pressure, no decision by any international forum, will stop Israel from defending itself."

The post comes after President Biden's warned that the US would not supply weapons to Israel for a major offensive in Rafah.

Israeli police raid studio linked to Al Jazeera

Shlomo Karhi

Israel says it has raided a studio being used by Al Jazeera in Nazareth, in the latest clash between the country and broadcaster.

Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi linked the media company to Hamas and said equipment was being confiscated in the northern Israeli city.

It comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday that Al Jazeera was to be shut down in Israel - with another of the broadcaster's offices in occupied East Jerusalem raided that same day.

Al Jazeera has previously called claims it was a threat to Israeli security a "dangerous and ridiculous lie".

You can read more here.

What's been happening

Getty Images

Israeli shelling in Rafah continues, even amid ceasefire talks

It's 17:15 in the southern Gazan city of Rafah, where heavy shelling has been reported as civilians fear being caught up in fighting. Here's a look back at the key events from the day:

• Civilians in Rafah say they hear the constant sound of shelling as reports say that Israeli tanks are massed close to built-up areas
• Around 80,000 people have fled the area since Monday, UN agency UNRWA says
• US President Joe Biden has warned that the US is "not going to supply the weapons and artillery shells" if Israel launches a major ground operation in Rafah
• Israel's far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir condemned Biden's announcement, writing on X: "Hamas Loves Biden"
• Meanwhile, a Hamas delegation has left ceasefire talks in Cairo to consult the group's leaders in Doha, Qatar, the BBC understands
• US sources indicate that a deal on a ceasefire that would release hostages can still be reached. But Israeli officials are reportedly not optimistic

Why US objects to 2000lb bombs in Rafah

Frank Gardner

BBC Security Correspondent in Jerusalem

It has taken more than seven months and a soaring death toll in Gaza to reach this point.

But now, in an interview with CNN, US President Joe Biden has explained why he has paused the delivery of some of America’s most powerful weapons to Israel, notably the 2000lb (960 kg) and 500lb (227 kg) bombs.

So what exactly is the effect of a 2000lb bomb dropped from the air?

As a weapon of war, the 2000lb so-called Joint Direct Attack Munitions bomb has a massive destructive power. According to the UN, it has a lethal fragmentation radius of 350 metres, it can penetrate concrete more than three metres thick and leaves a crater over 15 metres wide, making it completely unsuitable for use in a place heavily populated with civilians, like Rafah.

Even for those people several streets away, the effects can be horrific. The UN states that "the pressure from the explosion can rupture lungs, burst sinus cavities and tear off limbs hundreds of metres from the blast site".

It is clear that despite whatever assurances have been given by Israel to its US ally, Washington does not want to find itself complicit in the use by the Israeli Air Force of these weapons in the southern Gazan city of Rafah, where an estimated 1.4m Palestinians are crowded into a small area.

Israel will 'think carefully' about Rafah offensive after Biden warning - intelligence expert

We've heard from Justin Crump, who is the chief executive of Sibylline, a defence and intelligence company.

In an interview with the BBC Radio 4's World at One, Crump says US President Joe Biden's warning in essence tells Israel "'we won't give these more destructive systems that the Israelis might use as a sledgehammer'".

But Crump adds that Washington will "carry on supplying and supporting Israel" against outside aggression.

Earlier, Biden warned Israel against a major ground offensive in Rafah. Asked about the impact this might have on Israel's military strategy, Crump says it "reduces the options".

"I think it sends a strong political message", he adds.

"It certainly causes Israel to think more carefully," he adds.

Where have Palestinians in Rafah been told to go?

Reuters

On Monday, the Israeli military directed around 100,000 Palestinians in eastern Rafah to evacuate to an “expanded humanitarian area" - where it said they would find field hospitals, tents and basic supplies.

Palestinians warned that the area was made up of neighbourhoods that were already overcrowded and lacking in essential services, were still coming under intense bombardment, or had been left in ruins by recent fighting.

The UN said the evacuation zone covered more than 30 sq km (12 sq miles) and was home to nine sites sheltering displaced people, as well as three clinics and six warehouses.

Flyers - dropped by Israeli aircraft - pointed them to a 60 sq km (23 sq miles) area stretching north along the Mediterranean coast from al-Mawasi - a narrow strip of agricultural land that has long been an IDF-designated “humanitarian zone” - to the city of Khan Younis and the central town of Deir al-Balah.

You can read more on this here.

BBC

'My children were trembling with fear'

BBC

We've been hearing from people sheltering at the European Hospital in Khan Younis.

BBC Arabic's Gaza Today programme spoke to a woman, who described how people in Rafah found themselves surrounded by "fire belts" as they fled:

Before our displacement from Rafah, they fired missiles at us before dropping the flyers. After dropping the flyers, we found ourselves besieged by successive fire belts.

We ran out of our houses and could not even take our clothes with us. Shrapnel and shards were scattered over the entire house, so we were unable to take anything with us. We had to leave in a very tragic and difficult way, and my children were trembling with fear."