Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said his country will &stand alone& if it has to in its war against Hamas & threatening to deepen a crisis in relations with the United States.

US President Joe Biden said on Wednesday that he would not supply offensive weapons that Israel could use to launch an all-out assault on Rafah, the last major Hamas stronghold in Gaza, over concern for the wellbeing of the more than one million civilians sheltering there.

Protesters arrived in Malmo's main square on Thursday to demonstrate against Israel's inclusion in the Eurovision Song Contest, as Israel's entrant Eden Golan prepared to perform in the semi-final.

Israel carried out heavy airstrikes in south Lebanon and Hezbollah said it had launched explosive drones and rockets at Israeli targets on Wednesday as Israel's defence minister warned of a "hot summer" in the border region.