Gaza latest: Major aid crossing shuts after 'rocket barrage from Gaza'; Al Jazeera to be shut in Israel, cabinet decides

Israeli military action in Rafah could begin "very soon" given Hamas's refusal to accept a ceasefire deal, defence minister Yoav Gallant has said. 

"This morning in the centre of the Gaza Strip - IDF forces are ready for a powerful operation all over Gaza and especially in the Rafah area - the order will arrive very soon," he said, sharing an image of him visiting troops inside the enclave. 

"Hamas refuses any plan to return our abductees - the implications on the ground will be clear."

The city is is the only major population centre not be assaulted on the ground by Israeli troops since the war began last October. 

Well over a million people are thought to be sheltering in the city - many of them displaced after fleeing fighting further north.

Israel has been implored by allies and critics alike not to attack the city, with charities on the ground warning of the humanitarian catastrophe that would result from ground action. 

Al Jazeera has issued a statement on the news that Israel will shut down the broadcaster's operations in the country - describing the move as a "criminal action".  

"Israel's suppression of [the] free press to cover up its crimes by killing and arresting journalists has not deterred us from performing our duty," it said.

We'll continue to bring you the latest reaction on this story. 

At least seven people, including members of the Israel Defence Forces, have been injured in the rocket attack near the Kerem Shalom crossing between Gaza and Israel, according to local Hebrew media outlets.

The armed wings of Hamas and Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for a rocket attack on Israeli military positions in the area. 

Some 10 rockets are thought to have been fired, and the aid crossing is currently closed to humanitarian transport trucks. 

Some reaction to bring you now from Al Jazeera on the news that its bureau in Israel will be shut down. 

Walid Omary, head of Al Jazeera in Israel and the Palestinian territories, said the government decision to shutter the Qatari-owned station's operations was "dangerous" and motivated by politics.

Al Jazeera's legal team is preparing a response, he told Reuters.

The broadcaster rejected accusations that it harmed Israel's security as a "dangerous and ridiculous lie" that puts its journalists at risk and said that it reserved the right to "pursue every legal step". 

See our 1.11pm post for more detail on the Israeli ban on the broadcaster. 

Ambulances and medical crews have been dispatched to the Kerem Shalom border crossing after a rocket salvo was fired by Hamas in the area. 

There are reports in Israeli media outlets of casualties, and, as we reported in our 1.02pm post, the aid crossing is currently shut. 

The Israeli government has voted to close the local office of Qatar-owned broadcaster Al Jazeera.

"Al Jazeera reporters harmed Israel's security and incited against soldiers," Benjamin Netanyahu said. 

"It's time to remove the Hamas mouthpiece from our country."

The cabinet vote came after Israel's parliament passed a law allowing the temporary closure of foreign broadcasters who are considered to be a threat to national security during its war in Gaza. 

In a post on X, Israel's communications minister Shlomo Karhi said he had signed orders against Al Jazeera, which would be effective immediately and included the seizure of its equipment in the country. 

The unprecedented move is believed to be the first time Israel has ever shuttered a foreign news outlet - although the government has taken action against individual reporters in the past.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected ceasefire proposals because he says Hamas's call for a withdrawal of all troops from Gaza and an end to the war is unacceptable.

Mr Netanyahu said agreeing to such proposals would "leave Hamas intact" and leave the possibility of another attack in future.

"Surrendering to the demands of Hamas would be a terrible defeat for the State of Israel," he said in a video statement.

Mediated negotiations for a pause in the fighting in return for the release of hostages held by Hamas have been going on in Egypt, but a deal still appears some way off.

Hamas said in a statement on Sunday it's "still keen to reach a comprehensive, interconnected agreement that ends the aggression, guarantees withdrawal, and achieves a serious prisoner exchange deal".

The impasse comes after Egyptian media reported "noticeable progress" in ceasefire talks on Saturday.

The proposal mediators had put to Hamas set out a three-stage process for an immediate, six-week ceasefire and partial release of Israeli hostages, with some sort of Israeli pull-out in exchange.

Israel has shut the Kerem Shalom border crossing into Gaza after a rocket attack in the area. 

"Following the sirens that sounded in the area of Kerem Shalom, approx. 10 launches were identified crossing from the area adjacent to the Rafah crossing toward the area of Kerem Shalom," a statement from the Israeli Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT). 

"The Kerem Shalom crossing is currently closed to the passage of humanitarian aid trucks," it added. 

Israeli media is reporting that there are casualties, but this is unconfirmed. 

The Eshkol Regional Council, quoted by the Israeli media, said the rockets hit an open area near a military position, causing injuries.

Hamas has claimed responsibility for a rocket attack in the area, but says it fired at an Israeli military base. 

Neither the Israeli nor the Hamas claims have been independently verified. 

We're starting up our live coverage of the Israel-Hamas war. 

We'll be bringing you the latest on ceasefire talks, Hamas attacks and more throughout the day. 

We're closing our live Israel-Gaza coverage for today. Scroll through to catch up on what's been happening.