His appearance comes as efforts to advance the phased ceasefire have stalled, without much progress on its key tenets, including demilitarization and reconstruction. The truce envisioned Hamas handing over its weapons, Israeli forces withdrawing and rebuilding destroyed swaths of the coastal enclave after more than two years of war.

A ceasefire in the Gaza Strip took effect on Sunday following an almost three-hour delay. Hamas released three hostages Sunday and Israel released 90 Palestinian prisoners early Monday.

CAIRO/GAZA >> Israeli strikes killed at least three Palestinians in Gaza on Sunday, including two members of the Hamas-run police force, health officials said, in violence that underscored the fragility of a U.

The top diplomat overseeing the U.S.-brokered ceasefire in Gaza, said Wednesday the truce hinged on Hamas' disarmament, a sticking point that has stalled progress on other fronts, including rebuilding the mostly destroyed enclave.

Hundreds marched in Jerusalem on Tuesday against an expected agreement between Israel and Hamas for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages.