Cairo, Egypt - Talks on advancing the so-called Gaza ceasefire have begun in Cairo between mediators and Palestinian factions, a Palestinian source familiar with the meeting told AFP.

The discussions, which started Sunday and are set to resume Monday, come as Israel continues to attack the territory despite the truce in place since October.

The talks bring together mediators Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, along with representatives of several Palestinian factions, as efforts continue to push forward negotiations on the second phase of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.

According to the source, mediators were due to meet a Hamas delegation before midday on Monday, followed by a wider meeting including all participating factions.

China Taiwan complains about Beijing's "provocation" after "standoff" with Chinese ships

Egypt's Al-Qahera News channel said Sunday's talks focused on "the proposed roadmap for completing the implementation of the agreement."

"It was held in a positive atmosphere," the channel reported, adding that there was agreement on the need to continue implementing President Donald Trump's plan.

The talks come amid rising regional tensions, after Israel and Iran traded fire on Monday, in a serious test of another fragile truce and a potential threat to hopes for a deal to end the wider Middle East war.

Despite the Gaza truce technically in effect since October, daily violence has rocked the territory, over half of which is under Israeli military control in defiance of the ceasefire's terms.

Israel has killed at least 936 people since the ceasefire began, according to Gaza's health ministry.

The first phase of the ceasefire involved the release of the last Israeli hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinians detained by Israel.

Donald Trump Trump tells Iran and Israel to stop "shooting" as he claims he "calls the shots" over Netanyahu

A transition to the second phase, which was supposed to involve Hamas' disarmament and a gradual withdrawal of the Israeli military, has been stalled for months.

The question of Gaza's post-war governance also remains one of the main sticking points in negotiations on implementing the provisions of phase two.

Israel rejects any return of Hamas to power, but also rejects a direct takeover by the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority at this stage.

Hamas, meanwhile, demands the establishment of a Palestinian administration before considering handing over part of its arsenal – a key stipulation for the second phase, along with Israel's withdrawal.