Israeli forces are supposed to begin withdrawing from the Philadelphi Corridor, a sensitive border zone between Gaza and Egypt, this weekend.

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

Israel’s refusal to withdraw from a narrow strip of desert on Gaza's border with Egypt, as called for in the ceasefire with Hamas, could threaten the truce

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Negotiations between Israel and Hamas on the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire began Thursday in the Egyptian capital, Egypt said, averting a collapse of the agreement ahead of Saturday’s expiration of the first phase.

An Israeli delegation in Cairo is negotiating to extend the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire when it expires on Saturday rather than move to the second phase as originally planned and as Hamas wants,