A new Gaza ceasefire deal under which Israel would recover all hostages held by Hamas is possible, even within weeks, a US negotiator said after holding rare direct talks with the Palestinian militant group.

In mid-January, after 15 months of devastating war, Israel and Hamas agreed to a truce that would free hostages held in Gaza since the Hamas-led October 2023 attack on southern Israel in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

The announcement signaled a breakdown in the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal, the first phase of which expired Saturday with no clear next steps.

An Israeli air strike killed four Palestinians in Gaza, the territory's civil emergency service said, as Arab mediators and the United States tried to hammer out differences between Hamas and Israel over a January 19 ceasefire agreement.

Israel carried out an air strike in northern Gaza on Sunday, rattling an already fragile ceasefire as fresh talks in Doha are set to take place on Monday. Israel's military said the air strike targeted Hamas terrorists who "were identified operating in proximity to IDF troops and attempting to plant an explosive device in the ground in northern Gaza.

An Israeli delegation is all set to reach Doha for crucial talks on extending the fragile ceasefire deal in Gaza. US Special Envoy for West Asia, Steve Witkoff is also expected to reach Qatar's capital after a brief stopover in Saudi Arabia ahead of the talks.

Hamas says held meetings with US envoy over releasing hostage Hamas says ready to begin second phase of the ceasefire deal Israeli fire kills one person in Gaza, Palestinian officials say CAIRO, March 9 (Reuters) - Meetings between Hamas leaders and U.