The United States is looking to secure an “extension” of the current ceasefire between Israel and Hamas as the two sides work with mediators to finalize the next stage of the deal. The first phase of the ceasefire agreement,

President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff said on Sunday the U.S. expects the second phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal to go forward and that he would visit the Middle East in the coming week.

Israel and Hamas on Sunday accused each other of violating the already fragile Gaza Strip ceasefire deal after Israel delayed the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners who were supposed to be exchanged for hostages.

Among the six hostages freed by Hamas on Saturday in return for Palestinian prisoners were an Israeli Bedouin and an Ethiopian-born man who had been in Gaza for years before the O