The officials said the Trump administration isn't pressing Israel at all and made clear to the Egyptian and Qatari mediators that a temporary deal along the lines White House envoy Steve Witkoff laid out two months ago, backed by Israel, is the only game in town.

An Israeli plan to seize the Gaza Strip and expand the military operation has alarmed many in the region. Palestinians are exhausted and hopeless, pummeled by 19 months of heavy bombing. Families of Israeli hostages still being held in Gaza are terrified that the possibility of a ceasefire is slipping further away.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the population of Gaza will be displaced to the south after his security cabinet approved an expanded military operation in the enclave that a minister described as a plan to “conquer” the territory.