Ahead of talks in the Middle East to broker a permanent end to the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Israel’s opposition leader is pitching a fresh proposal to both redevelop the war-torn enclave and thwart growing economic instability inside one of Israel’s most important Arab partners.

TEL AVIV, Israel -- Israel faced sharp criticism as it stopped the entry of all food and other supplies into Gaza on Sunday and warned of “additional consequences” for Hamas if a fragile ceasefire isn't extended. Mediators Egypt and Qatar accused Israel of violating humanitarian law by using starvation as a weapon.

The corridor includes the Rafah crossing, which was Gaza’s only outlet to the outside world not controlled by Israel until the Israeli army captured the entire corridor last May.