Hamas officials are in Egypt for talks with Israel the US hopes will lead to a halt in fighting and the freeing of hostages in Gaza.

Israeli negotiators were also due to travel to Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh later in the day for talks about freeing hostages, part of US President Donald Trump's plan to end the war.

However, Israel's chief negotiator, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, himself was only expected to join later this week, pending developments in the negotiations, according to three Israeli officials.

"We will know very quickly whether Hamas is serious or not by how these technical talks go in terms of the logistics," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told NBC News' Meet the Press on Sunday.

Trump was optimistic. "I am told that the first phase should be co

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