Optimism that Israel and Hamas may soon agree to a two-month ceasefire deal is blooming in Washington ahead of Israeli Prime Minister BENJAMIN NETANYAHU’s Monday visit to the White House. Analysts and some former officials say that conditions for a deal to temporarily halt fighting in the enclave have improved in the wake of U.

Hamas has said it has submitted a positive response to mediators about a ceasefire proposed by the US. The BBC has been told that it has requested some key changes but is prepared to enter negotiations ‘immediately’.