'We are the closest we have been in a very long time,' said Secretary of State Marco Rubio

President Donald Trump is pressing Israel and Hamas to seal a settlement to the two-year conflict that’s devastated Gaza and destabilized the Middle East as the warring sides are set to begin mediated talks on Monday.

The first sign of whether the negotiations, being hosted by Egypt, are serious will be whether Hamas follows through on Trump’s demand to release all the remaining hostages, including those who died, in return for Israel releasing Palestinian prisoners.

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner were travelling to Egypt to take part in the talks, which will be held in Sharm el Sheikh. An Israeli delegation led by Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer is set

See Full Page