On the 38th day of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, efforts continue to release the seventh batch of Palestinian prisoners whom Israel refused to free in exchange for Hamas releasing 6 Israeli hostages, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeks to extend the first phase of the agreement.

Netanyahu wants to extend the first phase of the agreement for an additional 42 days, and is demanding that America pressure Hamas to bring forward the date for the release of the bodies of 4 kidnapped Israelis before Thursday.

The Israeli Prime Minister has obstructed mediators' initiatives to resolve the deal crisis following Israel's decision to freeze the release of more than 600 Palestinian prisoners.

US President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff announced that he will visit the region this week to negotiate a ceasefire agreement and a prisoner exchange deal.

In an interview with CNN, Witkoff stressed the need to extend the first phase, saying he would head to the region this week to negotiate this.