The Israeli military says its troops have taken “operational control” of the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, BBC reported.
Rafah has been a key entry point for aid and the only exit for people able to flee since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas in October.
A tank brigade moved in to the crossing area after a night of intense strikes.
With Israel’s Kerem Shalom crossing also closed, the UN warned Gaza’s two main aid arteries were now choked off.
On Tuesday, the White House said it had been told Kerem Shalom would reopen on Wednesday.
On Monday, the Israeli military ordered tens of thousands of civilians to begin evacuating nearby eastern parts of Rafah city, ahead of what it called a “limited” operation to eliminate Hamas fighters and dismantle infrastructure.
Hamas said Israel’s incursion and seizure of the Rafah crossing was aimed at undermining attempts by regional mediators to secure a new ceasefire deal.
The Palestinian armed group said on Monday that it had accepted a proposal from Egypt and Qatar, the basis of which is a weeks-long pause in the fighting and the release of several dozen hostages still held in Gaza.
