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.

Mughrabi and Alexander CornwellHamas said it had responded on Friday in “a positive spirit” to a US-brokered Gaza ceasefire proposal and was prepared to enter into talks on implementing the deal, which envisages a release of hostages and negotiations on ending the conflict.