Hope flickers for Gaza truce as talks resume

Differences remain over key demands as Israeli leader travels to Washington

The prospects for a potential end to Israel's offensive in Gaza seemed to gather pace, as negotiations would resume on Sunday in Qatar — a key mediator in the conflict — while an Israeli delegation was sent to Doha and Hamas said it was ready to "immediately" start talks involving a 60-day truce.

"Mediators informed Hamas that a new round of indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel will begin in Doha today, Sunday," said a Palestinian official familiar with the negotiations.

However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was scheduled to meet United States President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday, earlier dismissed Hamas' change requests to a draft US-backed ceasefire deal as "unacceptable".