Israel's negotiating team left for Qatar Monday for talks aimed at extending the fragile Gaza ceasefire after the authorities cut the Palestinian territory's electricity supply to ramp up pressure on Hamas.

Ahead of the negotiations, Israel disconnected the only power line to a water desalination plant in Gaza, a move Hamas denounced as "cheap and unacceptable blackmail".

The first phase of the truce deal expired on March 1 with no agreement on subsequent stages that should secure a lasting end to the war that erupted with Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

There are differences over how to proceed -- Hamas wants immediate negotiations on the next phase, but Israel prefers extending phase one.

Hamas accused Israel of reneging on the ceasefire deal, saying in a statement on Monday that Israel "refuses to commence the second phase, exposing its intentions of evasion and stalling".

An Israeli official familiar with the negotiations told AFP the country's team had left for Doha. Media reports said the delegation was led by a top official from the domestic security agency Shin Bet.

Israel has halted aid deliveries to Gaza amid the deadlock and said on Sunday it was cutting the electricity supply.

"We will use all the tools at our disposal to bring back the hostages and ensure that Hamas is no longer in Gaza the day........

© Al Monitor