A senior Qatari official urged Israel and Hamas to show "more commitment and seriousness" in ceasefire negotiations during interviews with Israeli media, as pressure increases for an agreement that would lead to the release of some Israeli hostages and achieve a ceasefire after nearly seven months of a long war in Gaza.

Qatar, which hosts Hamas's headquarters in Doha, has been a key mediator and has played an active role, alongside the United States and Egypt, in helping negotiate a short ceasefire in November that led to the release of dozens of hostages. However, in a sign of frustration, Qatar stated this month that it is reevaluating its role as a mediator.

An Israeli delegation is expected to arrive in Egypt in the coming days to discuss the latest proposals in the negotiations, and Hamas senior official Basem Naim said in a message to the Associated Press that a delegation from the group will also head to Cairo for talks. He did not provide details but Cairo News Channel reported that the delegation would arrive on Monday.

The interviews with Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari were published and broadcast by the liberal daily Haaretz and Israel's public broadcaster Kan on Saturday evening. These tensions came as Israel vowed to invade the city of Rafah at the southernmost tip of the Gaza Strip, despite global concerns about more than a million Palestinians living there.

Al-Ansari expressed his disappointment towards Hamas and Israel, stating that each side made decisions based on political interests rather than considering the well-being of civilians.

No details were revealed about the status of the talks, other than saying that they have "effectively halted," and that "both sides are sticking to their positions."

Relations between Qatar and Israel have strained throughout the war, as some politicians in Israel, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, criticized Qatar for not applying enough pressure on Hamas. Israeli lawmakers have also paved the way for the country to expel the Qatari-owned Al Jazeera channel. Qatar does not have formal diplomatic relations with Israel.

Al-Ansari's comments came after an Egyptian delegation discussed a "new vision" for a long-term ceasefire in Gaza with Israeli officials, according to an Egyptian official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the developments freely.

The Egyptian official said that Israeli officials are open to discussing reaching a permanent ceasefire in Gaza as part of the second phase of the deal.

The official stated, "They have shown a willingness to do so but not a commitment." Israel has refused to end the war until Hamas is defeated.

The official added that the second phase will begin after the release of civilian and sick hostages and will include negotiations for the release of soldiers. The release of senior Palestinian prisoners and the start of a reconstruction process are also included.

The negotiations earlier this month focused on a six-week ceasefire proposal and the release of 40 civilian hostages and patients held by Hamas in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

A letter written by U.S. President Joe Biden and 17 other world leaders urged Hamas to release hostages immediately. In recent days, Hamas has released new videos of three hostages, in a clear attempt to get Israel to make concessions.

Increasing international pressure on Hamas and Israel to reach a ceasefire agreement is also aimed at avoiding an Israeli attack on Rafah, the city on the border with Egypt where more than half of Gaza's 2.3 million residents are seeking shelter.

Israel has mobilized dozens of tanks and armored vehicles, and the planned incursion has raised global concerns.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas emphasized during the opening session of the World Economic Forum on Sunday in Saudi Arabia that "a simple blow is all it takes to force everyone to leave Palestine."

The bolstering of Israeli forces may serve as a pressure tactic on Hamas in the negotiations.

Israel considers Rafah the last major stronghold of Hamas. It is committed to destroying the military and governmental capabilities of the group.

Relief groups have warned that an invasion of Rafah could worsen the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, where hunger is widespread. About 400 tons of aid arrived on Sunday at the Israeli port of Ashdod – the largest shipment yet by sea via Cyprus – according to the United Arab Emirates. It was not immediately clear how and when it would be delivered to Gaza.

The war erupted following a Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, which resulted in 1,200 deaths, most of them civilians, according to Israeli authorities, which state that another 250 people are being held as hostages. Israeli authorities report that Hamas and other groups are holding about 130 people, including the remains of around 30 individuals.

The retaliatory Israeli attack on Hamas has resulted in the deaths of more than 34,000 people, most of them women and children, according to health authorities in Gaza, which do not differentiate between civilians and combatants in their statistics.

The Israeli military holds Hamas responsible for civilian casualties, accusing it of being present in residential and public areas. It states that it has killed at least 12,000 militants, without providing evidence.