Days before U.S. President Donald Trump is to visit the Middle East, Israel is sending soldiers to the border with Gaza.

A senior Israeli defence official said on Monday there was a "window of opportunity" for a hostage deal in Gaza during U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to the region next week but that otherwise Israel would begin its new operation in the enclave.

Israel has set President Trump's visit to the Middle East next week as a deadline for a new hostage and ceasefire deal, with a massive ground operation to commence if no deal is reached, Israeli officials say.

Israel’s Cabinet has decided to seize Gaza for an unspecified amount of time. It's a move that could see Israel reestablish control over a territory it vacated two decades ago.

The United Nations and its partners have condemned the proposals by Israel, which has been barring deliveries of food and medicine for months.

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — 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.