- Israeli officials headed on Monday to Qatar, where the ruling emir separately met the chief of Hamas, as the warring parties reportedly closed in on a ceasefire and-hostage deal that Washington says is now within reach.

- Israel said it will agree only to a temporary pause in fighting to secure the release of hostages while Hamas said it will not free them without an agreement that leads to a permanent end to the war.

- U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday claimed that Israel is ready to halt its Gaza attacks for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in a ceasefire that could be signed as soon as next week. Hamas later said Biden's remarks were premature.

- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously insisted that a military operation in Rafah was still planned despite the UN warned that such attack would be "nail in coffin" of Gaza aid as deliveries halve.