Hamas said an Israeli strike on Sunday killed three police officers near the southern Gaza city of Rafah, a day after Israel and militants carried out a hostage-prisoner swap. The Hamas-run interior ministry initially reported that two officers were killed and a third was critically wounded in a strike while they were deployed in the Al Shouka area,

Israel will begin negotiations on a permanent end to the war in Gaza and freeing the remaining living hostages held there, its foreign minister said.

Tensions between Israel and Hamas are increasing just two days after the sixth hostage-prisoner exchange. Israel launched a fresh offensive against the Iran-backed group, even as Israel's security cabinet was expected to convene today to discuss the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement.