Israel wants to extend the first phase of the deal with Hamas, rather than begin negotiations over the more politically fraught second stage.

Officials from Israel, Qatar, Egypt and the United States have been involved in negotiations on the second phase in Cairo.

Hamas says it has rejected an Israeli proposal to extend phase one of the ceasefire deal in Gaza, instead of proceeding to phase two, throwing the Middle East peace process into uncertainty just hours before the first stage of the agreement is set to expire.