Israel gave the go signal for another 24 hours of ceasefire to allow them to continue their negotiations with Hamas, according to media report.

An Israeli official in Jerusalem told Reuters that Egypt requested the ceasefire extension on Monday "to allow further negotiations" between Hamas and Israel. Egyptian officials will also act as mediators in the talks.

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Azzam al-Ahmad, head of the Palestinian negotiations team to Cairo, Egypt, said that apart from the 24-hour extension, there was no other progress in the talks because Israel was dragging its feet. 

In a text message, al-Ahmad told Haaretz news agency that the panel hopes to use "every minute" on Tuesday to reach a deal but there are no guarantees.

The extension of truce between Israel and Hamas reportedly came after the Egyptian-mediated negotiations made some significant progress, according to Palestinian sources. Insiders told the Ma'an news agency that the Egyptian mediators presented a plan focused on security and politics that could ultimately lead to the end of the Gaza siege.

Tarek Fahmi, head of the Israel Unit at the Egyptian National Center for Middle East Studies, said Monday's negotiations were "critical." 

Fahmi noted that Israel wants rockets and missiles to be removed from the Gaza Strip. The embattled country also wants a truce that will last from five to seven years but Palestine has yet to compromise.

In the event the Cairo talks fail, Fahmi said they will turn to a proposal from the United States government to bring the negotiations to the United Nations table.

Following the extended ceasefire, authorities said the two sides will continue discussing a long-term agreement next month. Among the other issues that will be placed on the negotiation table is Hamas' demand to allow a seaport and airport operation in Gaza.

TagsNews, World News, Israel, Gaza, Gaza Strip, Israel-Gaza crisis, Israel vs. Hamas, ceasefire, Ceasefire in Gaza, Egypt