Hamas and Israel staked out their positions Wednesday ahead of expected talks on a Washington-backed ceasefire proposal, with the militant group suggesting it was open to an agreement while the Israeli prime minister vowed that "there will be no Hamas" in postwar Gaza.

One of the main sticking points between Israel and Hamas has been whether a ceasefire would be temporary or pave the way to the end of the devastating war

Hamas has suggested it is open to a ceasefire agreement with Israel but insisted on its longstanding position that any deal must bring an end to the war in Gaza.The militant group stopped short of accepting a US-backed proposal announced by Donald Trump hours earlier.