An Israeli proposal to force much of Gaza’s population into a small enclave is now overshadowing negotiations over a truce.

As Israel and Hamas move closer to a ceasefire agreement, Israel says it wants to maintain troops in a southern corridor of the Gaza Strip — a condition that could derail the talks.

(Reuters) -Israeli and Hamas negotiators have been taking part in the latest round of ceasefire talks in Doha since July 6, discussing a U.S.-backed proposal for a 60-day ceasefire that envisages a phased release of hostages, Israeli troop withdrawals from parts of Gaza and discussions on ending the conflict.

Gaza’s civil defense agency has said that 43 Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks, including at a market and a water distribution point, as Israel-Hamas ceasefire talks come to a halt.

Hamas and Israel on Saturday accused the other of blocking attempts to strike a Gaza ceasefire agreement, nearly a week into indirect talks between the two sides to halt 21 months of bitter fighting in the Palestinian territory.

Israel and Hamas may be able to reach a Gaza ceasefire and hostage-release deal within one or two weeks but such an agreement is not likely to be secured in just a day's time, a senior Israeli official said on Wednesday.

The Israeli army has announced the establishment of a new corridor in Gaza — the third such axis Israel has carved across the war-torn strip as part of its strategy to tighten pressure on Hamas. In a new video it shows what this will mean. Newsweek has reached out to Hamas officials for comment.

A key governing partner of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says it is quitting the government, leaving him with a minority in parliament