Fierce fighting, bombing reported in Rafah

Residents in Rafah are reporting fierce fighting between the Israeli army and Hamas fighters, as they tell Reuters Israel is trying to complete the capture of Gaza's southernmost city.

Israeli tanks are reportedly forcing their way into the western and northern parts of the city while strikes are being carried out by planes, tanks and ships off the coast, forcing a new wave of residents to flee.

The UN had previously said that only 65,000 people remain in Rafah, while over 1.4 million were sheltering there prior to Israel's offensive on the city.

"The city lives through a humanitarian catastrophe and people are dying inside their tents because of Israeli bombardment," said Ahmed al-Sofi, the mayor of Rafah.