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.

US President Donald Trump has voiced confidence that a ceasefire deal in Gaza could be agreed this week after Hamas announced that it had “submitted a positive response” to a proposal for a 60-day truce with Israel.

Israeli airstrikes killed at least 38 Palestinians in Gaza, hospital officials told the Associated Press on Sunday, as Israel's military said it has struck over 100 targets in the embattled enclave in the past day.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has departed Washington with little to show for his meetings with President Donald Trump.

The decision came after Hamas said it had responded positively to an American-backed cease-fire proposal. President Trump says he hopes for a truce as soon as next week.

Palestinians reported one of the worst nights of Israeli bombardment in weeks, while Israeli officials were due in Washington for a new ceasefire push.