Israeli authorities prevented Ayed Ayoub from escaping Gaza's hunger and war with his family for an academic fellowship in France. He finally left last month, after Israel unexpectedly eased its tight control of the border.

Details are murky and no final agreement has been reached, but the plan is under serious enough consideration that the administration has discussed it with Libyan leadership.

Israel pursued its military operation in Gaza after it agreed to lift a two-month-old blockade on aid deliveries that has left the enclave on the brink of famine.