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.

Loud blasts and explosions in Gaza was seen from southern Israel in the wee hours of Wednesday July 16. The blasts occurred as hopes for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas hang in the balance.

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.

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,

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.

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Syrian government officials and leaders in the Druze religious minority announced Wednesday a renewed ceasefire after days of clashes that have threatened to unravel the country’s postwar political transition and have drawn intervention by Syria’s powerful neighbor, Israel.

Netanyahu’s coalition has been trying to find a path forward on a new law. But his base is largely opposed to granting sweeping draft exemptions and a key lawmaker has stood in the way of giving the ultra-Orthodox a law they can get behind, prompting their exit.