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STORY: A choking cloud of smoke and dust in Gaza's al-Nuseirat refugee camp is the telltale sign of a deadly Israeli airstrike.

And as civilians rush to the scene to look for the wounded or dead, the scene underscores the fact that cease-fire talks have not yet secured a pause in fighting.

Mediators said negotiations in Qatar's capital Doha were paused on Friday (August 16) with negotiators set to meet again next week.

In a joint statement, the United States, Qatar and Egypt said Washington had presented a new proposal, closing gaps between the sides in a way that could allow rapid implementation of a deal.

"The path is now set for that outcome, saving lives, bringing relief to the people of Gaza, and de-escalating regional tensions," they said in the statement.

While in Lebanon, Egypt's foreign minister said a cease-fire deal may be the only way to avert further escalation.

"Quickly reaching a deal that leads to an immediate ceasefire, an end to the killing of civilians and an exchange of prisoners and hostages is the key to the beginning of the solution in this region, the beginning of a de-escalation, and the beginning to prevent the region from slipping into the furnace of a comprehensive war, the extent of which only God knows and what it will result in terms of chaos, destruction, and devastation."

The conflict began on Oct. 7 when Hamas fighters rampaged into Israel, killing around 1,200 people and seizing around 250 hostages according to Israeli tallies.

Israel's subsequent military campaign has reduced much of Gaza to rubble and killed more than 40,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to Palestinian health authorities. Israel says it has eliminated 17,000 Hamas fighters.

An Israeli official said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was expected to meet U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday.