Israel and Hamas signaled on Saturday they were preparing for the next phase of ceasefire negotiations, as mediators pushed ahead with talks to extend the fragile 42-day truce that began in January. Hamas said there were "positive indicators" for the start of the ceasefire's second-phase talks but did not elaborate.

Hamas, alongside the increasing efforts of intermediary countries to advance fragile ceasefire negotiations in Gaza, announced its readiness to begin discussions for the second phase of the ceasefire. This announcement came after Hamas representatives met with Egyptian security officials in Cairo.

Israel carried out an air strike on militants in northern Gaza on Sunday, rattling an already fragile ceasefire as it prepared for fresh talks in Doha on the future of its truce with Hamas.