Mr Netanyahu has repeatedly said Israel must send ground forces into the city, which he says is Hamas' final stronghold. It comes as the group rejected the latest Israeli ceasefire proposal.

Israel’s prime minister has reiterated his vow to invade the city of Rafah in southern Gaza and declared: “There is a date.”

Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said Israel must send ground forces into the city, which he says is Hamas’ last stronghold in the besieged enclave.

It comes as Hamas rejected the latest Israeli ceasefire proposal, after an official said no progress had been made in negotiations over the weekend in Cairo, Egypt.