Israeli troops 'at height of battle' encircling Gaza City

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his troops are at the height of battle in Gaza and that they've passed the outskirts of their target, Gaza city.

The Health Ministry in Gaza, run by Hamas - proscribed a terrorist organisation by the UK, says more than 9 thousand have now been killed there in the last three weeks. At the Rafah crossing to Egypt, 400 more people were authorised to leave.