The White House announcement comes nine months after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire was signed. Negotiations between Israel and Hamas had largely deadlocked over the implementation of its second phase.

US President Donald Trump has threatened more strikes on Iran as the United States presses for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Hours later on Saturday, local time, Kuwait said it responded to a new round of drone attacks from Iran, while a tanker was struck in the strategic waterway.