Europe and Israel have reached a new deal to allow more food and fuel into Gaza. The European Union’s foreign policy chief says the plan could result in “more crossings open, aid and food trucks entering Gaza,

The European Union and Israel have agreed on a deal to allow more food, fuel and other vital aid into the starvation-gripped Gaza Strip, with an E.U. presence at border crossings, European and Israeli officials said Thursday.

"The situation is very catastrophic because the electricity will abruptly go off within 24 hours," one doctor warned.

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 decision followed discussions with the European Union, which has pressed Israel to ease the dire humanitarian conditions for Palestinians in the territory.

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.

Nasser hospital in Khan Younis has a critical shortage of fuel and had to stop admitting patients after Israeli tanks advanced nearby on Thursday.

Medical workers are forced to make life-or-death decisions for patients whose injuries would be treatable if they had the supplies, according to a new report.