Thousands of protesters on Saturday (March 8) rallied in Tel Aviv to push the Israeli government to secure a hostage deal with Hamas, with Israel and Hamas signaling later in the day that they were preparing for the next phase of ceasefire negotiations.

Some relatives of hostages and their supporters woke up outside the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv on Sunday, after sleeping in tents there.

Crowds of protesters took to the streets of central Tel Aviv on Saturday for a weekly demonstration demanding the immediate release of all the remaining hostages still being held in Gaza. Israel last week cut off all supplies to the Gaza Strip as it pressed Hamas to agree.

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.

Israel has imposed a total blockade on all goods entering the enclave, demanding that Hamas free remaining hostages without beginning the negotiations to end the Gaza war.

Israel ordered an immediate halt to Gaza's electricity supply Sunday in an effort to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages, even as it prepared for fresh talks on the future of

Israel and Hamas are preparing for the next phase of ceasefire negotiations, aiming to extend the fragile truce that began in January. Hamas stated there were positive indicators for progress, while Israel confirmed

Both Israel and Hamas signal readiness for ceasefire negotiations this Sunday. After Hamas meets with mediators in Cairo, it is pushing to enter the second phase of the ceasefire deal. Israel, for its part,