UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is expected to visit Egypt's border with Gaza on Saturday, after Israel vowed to launch a ground invasion of Rafah, even without United States support.
During his visit, Guterres plans to reiterate his call for a humanitarian ceasefire, though renewed international pressure has so far failed to dissuade Israel from the planned attack on Rafah, the southernmost territory of the Gaza Strip where most of the devastated territory's population has taken shelter.
Despite warnings that such an operation would cause mass civilian casualties and worsen the humanitarian crisis gripping the territory, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he will press ahead with the attack.
Early on Saturday morning, at least four children were killed in Israeli air strikes on Rafah.
Medical sources reported that Israeli warplanes bombed a two-story house in the Mirage area, north of the city, killing five civilians and and wounding several others.
Israeli fighter jets also carried out air strikes on the town of Al-Qarara, north of Khan Younis.