But it added: "In light of an assessment of the situation, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed that the invitation to proximity talks be accepted and that the contacts for the return of our hostages - on the basis of the Qatari proposal that Israel has agreed to - be continued. The negotiating team will leave tomorrow."

Hamas has been terminally weakened by Israel’s offensive. A lieutenant colonel in its security forces told the BBC that it has lost control of about 80 per cent of Gaza and there is “barely anything left” of its military structures.

While in Washington for his third visit since Trump’s return to the White House, Netanyahu met with the U.S. president on Monday. Trump expressed optimism that a deal could be finalized soon, telling reporters that negotiations were moving forward and that Hamas appeared ready to engage constructively.