The status of a narrow stretch of land known as the Philadelphi corridor on Gaza's border with Egypt has emerged as a stumbling block in efforts to secure a deal for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas after 11 months of war.

The “buffer zone,” in which Israel has destroyed most structures, encompasses 16 percent of the land area of Gaza.

Israeli forces appeared to be winding down a deadly 10-day raid in a flashpoint city in the occupied West Bank on Friday, as key ally Germany warned against treating the territory like Gaza.There was no official confirmation from the Israeli military that it had withdrawn from Jenin,