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 urged, in a statement on early Sunday, the "immediate" start of talks for the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal, reported Reuters. Hamas said that its delegation held discussions with the head of Egypt's general intelligence agency,