The Israeli negotiating delegation intends to remain in the Qatari capital, Doha, until Thursday, coinciding with US President Donald Trump's visit to the city, Israeli media reported Tuesday.

Yedioth Ahronoth reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff to keep the delegation in Qatar to allow time to push for a new ceasefire agreement.

These moves follow Hamas' decision to release American captive Idan Alexander, a move described as the result of rare direct negotiations between the movement and the US administration, separate from the Israeli side.

A source familiar with these discussions revealed to CNN that Alexander's release could immediately open the door to broader negotiations to end the war in the Gaza Strip.

Netanyahu's office announced on Monday that an Israeli delegation would depart for Doha on Tuesday, following a meeting with US envoy Witkoff, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, and a phone call with President Donald Trump.

Israel threatened, according to a statement issued by Netanyahu's office, that negotiations would be conducted under fire, in reference to the continued heavy bombardment of the Gaza Strip.

The statement also indicated that plans to escalate military operations in Gaza remain in place, but their implementation will be postponed until after Trump's visit, in an attempt to give mediation efforts a chance to achieve progress on the ceasefire.

For its part, Hamas expressed its readiness to immediately begin negotiations aimed at achieving a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire, along with the withdrawal of the occupation army from the Gaza Strip, the lifting of the blockade, a prisoner exchange, and the reconstruction of Gaza.

Hamas spokesman Jihad Taha affirmed that Hamas hopes that Alexander's release will be a prelude to a broader agreement, and called on the Trump administration to continue to pressure Netanyahu to end the brutal war against defenseless civilians in Gaza.