Israel carried out an air strike on militants in northern Gaza on Sunday, rattling an already fragile ceasefire as it prepared for fresh talks in Doha on the future of its truce with Hamas.

Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas have indicated that they are preparing for the next stage of negotiations on extending the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Statements from both sides came amid efforts by mediators to prolong the 42-day truce that began in January,

The military was supposed to begin withdrawing from that region in early March if the current ceasefire, which expires Saturday, were extended.