As a cease-fire that halted a 15-month-long war nears its end on Saturday, Israel and the U.S. are trying to push Hamas to extend the first phase of the truce, delaying a discussion of the hardest parts of a pact that would see a complete end to the war.

       The U.S., which is a key mediator in the talks, has said it is committed to reaching the second stage of the cease-fire and ending the war but needs more time to do so. President Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, who previously helped seal the first stage of the cease-fire, is heading to the region this week to negotiate its continuation.

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