Indirect talks between Hamas and Israel for a ceasefire in Gaza are being held up by Israel's proposals to keep troops in the territory, two Palestinian sources with knowledge of the discussions told AFP on Saturday.

Arab mediators are working to reach a new Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal that would secure the release of 11 living hostages out of the 24 still believed to be held alive by Hamas in Gaza.

The already strained Gaza cease-fire deal is set to expire on Saturday with still no word yet on whether Israel or Hamas will continue negotiating for a second phase to free the remaining hostages.

While UN and European officials hope that a cease-fire deal would help ease suffering among the Strip’s population, Israelis worry that as in the

The talks, mediated by Qatar, the US, and Egypt, have reportedly stalled over two major sticking points: how humanitarian aid would be distributed during the ceasefire and whether Israeli forces would withdraw from areas of Gaza currently under military control.