Israel is intensifying military operations in one of the last Hamas strongholds in Gaza, as the sides stake out positions before ceasefire negotiations proposed by US President Donald Trump.

Hamas is seeking guarantees that a new U.S. ceasefire proposal for Gaza would lead to the war's end, a source close to the militant group said on Thursday, as medics said Israeli strikes across the territory had killed scores more people.

Israel confirmed that it agreed to a ceasefire proposal by President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, a day after Trump said the country had “agreed to the necessary conditions” for a ceasefire in the war in Gaza.