The Israeli military took control of the vital Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt on Tuesday, pushing into the southern Gazan city after a night of airstrikes and as prospects for a ceasefire deal hung in the balance. Hamas said late on Monday it had agreed to a ceasefire proposal from mediators seven months into the Israeli war that has pushed more than a million Gazans into the south of the enclave. Israel said the terms did not meet its demands and launched a military operation in Rafah. Israeli tanks and planes pounded several areas and houses in Rafah overnight, killing 20 Pales…