Srinagar, May 9 -- Israel shelled Rafah on Thursday as US President Joe Biden offered his starkest warning yet over the conduct of its war against Hamas, vowing to cut off arms transfers if an offensive into the southern Gaza city goes ahead.

Israel has already defied international objections by sending in tanks and conducting "targeted raids" in the border city, which it says is home to Hamas's last remaining battalions -- but is also crowded with displaced Palestinian civilians.

Reports said that heavy shelling took place in Rafah early Thursday with Israel saying it was striking "Hamas positions" further north in the centre of the Gaza Strip.

Earlier, Biden warned he would stop US weapons supplies to Israel if it pushed ahead with i...