“It’s a very comprehensive plan we’re putting together,” Witkoff told Fox News, without offering more details.

The US State Department said separately secretary of state Marco Rubio would meet Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar in Washington.

Israeli tanks edge closer to Gaza City

“If no truce is reached, we will see the tanks outside our homes,” he told the Reuters news agency via a chat app from his house in Jala Street in Gaza City, around 1km from the Ibad al-Rahman neighbourhood.

‘Evacuating Gaza City is inevitable’

“For this reason, the clergy and nuns have decided to remain and continue to care for all those who will be in the compounds,” a  joint statement by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate and the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said.

Palestinian and United Nations officials said the Gaza Strip was in need of around 1.5 million new tents.

At least 20 killed, including four-year-old

It said it had killed a senior Hamas militant, Mahmoud Al-Aswad, who served as the group’s head of general security intelligence for the West Gaza area, on 22 August. Hamas has not confirmed his death.