The United States is looking to secure an “extension” of the current ceasefire between Israel and Hamas as the two sides work with mediators to finalize the next stage of the deal.

The first phase of the ceasefire agreement, which was implemented in late January, was set to last for six weeks; that time frame will expire at the beginning of March. Negotiators built in the flexibility to extend the first phase of the deal instead of letting it lapse if the second phase had not been agreed upon at the end of the six-week period.