Israeli tanks encircle Rafah 

Israeli tanks have seized the key road dividing the eastern and western parts of Rafah, encircling the entire part of the eastern side of the bordering city in the Gaza Strip.

According to the residents of the city, constant explosions and gunfire were heard in the east and northeast of the city on Friday, with intense fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas.

Hamas said it pounded Israeli tanks near a mosque in the east of the city, which indicated that Israelis had penetrated several kilometres into the city.

Israel has ordered civilians out of the eastern half of Rafah, forcing tens of thousands of people to seek shelter outside the city, previously the last refuge of more than a million who fled other parts of the enclave during the war.

Israel says it cannot win the war without assaulting Rafah to root out thousands of Hamas fighters it believes are sheltering there. 

Hamas says it will fight to defend it. Aid agencies say the battle puts hundreds of thousands of already displaced civilians in harm's way.