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Hamas accused Israel of "cheap and unacceptable blackmail" over its decision on Sunday to halt the electricity supply to war-ravaged Gaza to pressure the Palestinian militants into releasing hostages.

"We strongly condemn the occupation's decision to cut off electricity to Gaza, after depriving it of food, medicine, and water," Izzat al-Rishq, a member of Hamas's political bureau said in a statement, adding it was "a desperate attempt to pressure our people and their resistance through cheap and unacceptable blackmail tactics."

Hamas said on Monday that it is showing flexibility in talks with mediators and is awaiting the outcome of efforts from Egypt, Qatar, and the United States in negotiations with Israel.

Israel is due to send a delegation to Doha on Monday for a fresh round of talks on extending a fragile ceasefire in Gaza.

The first phase of the truce ended on 1 March with no agreement on subsequent stages that could secure a permanent end to the war, but both sides have since refrained from resuming full-scale fighting.

There are still significant differences over the terms of a potential second phase of the truce.