Israeli troops and Palestinian gunmen clashed throughout the Gaza Strip over the weekend, both sides said as mediating countries sought common ground for a possible ceasefire that would release hostages held by Hamas, Reuters reports.

Prospects for securing any truce looked uncertain, however, with Israel saying it was, in parallel, planning to expand its sweep to destroy Hamas, while the Islamist faction stood firm on its demand for a permanent end to the nearly five-month-old onslaught.

Residents said Israeli forces shelled several areas of the enclave as tanks rolled into Beit Lahiya and soldiers and gunmen waged running battles in the Zeitoun sector of Gaza City — both in the north, which had been conquered early in the offensive.

At least 86 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes since Saturday, medics said. Israel’s military said two soldiers died in fighting in southern Gaza and that its forces had killed or captured several Palestinian gunmen in Zeitoun and elsewhere.