Israel's refusal to withdraw from a narrow strip of desert on the Gaza side of the border with Egypt, as called for in the ceasefire with Hamas, could further threaten the fragile truce. An Israeli official said Thursday that Israeli forces would remain in the so-called Philadelphi corridor to prevent weapons smuggling.

Israel refuses to withdraw from the Gaza Strip's strategic corridor, risking a crisis with Hamas and Egypt as the ceasefire approaches its end; hostage negotiations remain delicate.

Hamas had said that negotiation and adherence to the ceasefire agreement was the only way for Israel to secure the release of remaining hostages

Hamas is set to free six more Israeli hostages from the Gaza Strip. The release scheduled for Saturday would also involve freeing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.