The masked and armed security contractor atop a dirt mound watches thousands of Palestinians who have been kettled into narrow lanes separated by fences below.He makes a heart shape with his hands and the crowd responds - the fence begins to bend as they push against it.

Israel is facing growing international pressure as aid distribution efforts in Gaza devolved into chaos during the first days of a controversial new mechanism backed by the United States and Israel.

The White House has sent an Israeli-backed ceasefire proposal to Hamas, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday, in the latest bid to quell fighting, free hostages and enable the flow of humanitarian aid to struggling Gaza.