GAZA/JERUSALEM/AMMAN - Hamas said on Sunday that it affirms its readiness to begin indirect negotiations over the Gaza ceasefire immediately.

In a press statement, Hamas expressed its appreciation for the continued efforts by Qatar and Egypt to broker a ceasefire agreement.

The movement said that it is ready to "immediately begin a round of indirect negotiations" to address the outstanding issues with "the other party".

Hamas said the objective of the talks would be to end the "humanitarian catastrophe" in Gaza, ensure the delivery of relief aid to the Palestinian people, and achieve a permanent ceasefire accompanied by the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip.

There has been no immediate comment from the Israeli side regarding the Hamas announcement.

READ MORE: Israeli army confirms killing of Hamas leader in Gaza, 2 senior commanders

However, Israeli army chief Eyal Zamir has ordered the expansion of the ground operation into additional areas in both the southern and northern parts of the Gaza Strip, according to a statement issued by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

He stated that the expansion of activity will continue until conditions are created for the return of the Israeli hostages and the decisive defeat of Hamas.

The IDF said Sunday that it, together with the Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency, killed a Hamas cell commander during an airstrike on Friday in Gaza.

Khalil Abd al-Nasser Muhammad Khatib, cell commander in Hamas's Al Mawasi battalion in central Gaza, was identified during a reconnaissance mission on Friday, and was hit and killed by an aircraft directed by IDF troops, the IDF said in a statement, without specifying the location of the attack.

According to the statement, the Hamas commander was responsible for an attack that killed 21 IDF soldiers in central Gaza's Al Mawasi area in January 2024, and also led other attacks against IDF troops.

Hamas has yet to comment on the Israeli claim.

READ MORE: US says Israel accepts temporary Gaza ceasefire proposal

In a separate statement, the IDF said its troops struck and dismantled the booby-trapped structure from which an explosive device was activated against IDF soldiers on May 20, killing Israeli soldier Danilo Mocanu. IDF troops also dismantled tunnel shafts and observation posts they deemed as "threats".

Israel resumed its assault on Gaza on March 18, following a two-month truce with Hamas. Since then, 4,149 Palestinians have been killed and 12,149 injured, according to Gaza-based health authorities on Sunday.

Jordanian king urges global action

King Abdullah II of Jordan on Sunday warned against the dangerous and unprecedented escalation targeting Palestinians in the West Bank as well as the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.

The Jordanian king made the remarks during a meeting in Amman with the delegation of the Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee, which is tasked with coordinating international action to end the war in Gaza, according to a statement released by the Royal Hashemite Court.

The meeting, which was attended by Jordanian Crown Prince Hussein, highlighted the need to intensify Arab efforts to stop the war in Gaza and ensure the delivery of aid to all areas within the enclave.

ALSO READ: Israel warns Hamas to accept US envoy's Gaza ceasefire deal 'or be destroyed'

The Jordanian king stressed the importance of maintaining coordination with active partners to build greater international pressure to stop the ongoing tragedy in Gaza, the statement said.

The discussions also addressed the importance of continuing to mobilize international support to enable the Palestinian people to attain their full legitimate rights and to create a political horizon for peace based on the two-state solution.

For their part, members of the delegation praised Jordan's support for the Palestinians at all levels, regionally and internationally.

They also commended the Jordanian king's standing in the international community, which has contributed to mobilizing global opinion at the leadership level in support of the Palestinian cause regarding the situation in Gaza and the West Bank.

READ MORE: Israel says to build 22 new settlements in occupied West Bank

The delegation includes Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit, and Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi.