Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el Sisi and Kuwaiti Emir Meshal Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah stressed the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

The call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, where nearly 51,000 Palestinians have been killed in the last 18 months, was made during a meeting between the two leaders as Sisi concluded his two-day visit to Kuwait.

The Egyptian president and the Kuwaiti emir chaired an expanded session attended by delegations from both countries, followed by bilateral talks.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would press on with its military offensive against Hamas to secure the release of hostages, as he praised troops during a visit to northern Gaza.

"They are striking the enemy and Hamas will continue to suffer blow after blow. We insist that they release our hostages, and we insist on achieving all of our war objectives," Netanyahu told troops in Gaza, according to a statement from his office.

Hamas's armed wing said it had "lost contact" with the group holding Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander following an Israeli air strike on their location in Gaza.

"We announce that we have lost contact with the group holding soldier Edan Alexander following a direct strike on their location. We are still trying to reach them at this moment," Abu Obeida, spokesperson for the Qassam Brigades, said on his Telegram channel.

At least nine more Palestinians have been as a result of Israeli strikes targeting a hospital, homes and tents for displaced civilians across war-devastated Gaza, according to Palestinian state media.

A senior Hamas official has said that the Palestinian resistance movement will "most likely" respond to an Israeli ceasefire proposal it received through mediators within 48 hours.

"Hamas will most likely send its response to the mediators within the next 48 hours, as the movement is still conducting in-depth consultations... within its leadership framework, as well as with resistance factions, in order to formulate a unified position", the official said.