Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has instructed the military to prepare to build a “humanitarian city” in Gaza that critics describe as a “concentration camp.”

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

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 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 father of NYC socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mandami sits on a council rife with anti-Israel sentiment and has previously expressed sympathy for suicide bombers.

Hospital officials say Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 28 Palestinians in Gaza, including four children.