U.S.-led ceasefire efforts in Gaza appeared to gain momentum Saturday after nearly 21 months of war as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said Israel on Sunday will send a negotiating team to talks in Qatar.

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 “there will be no Hamas” in postwar Gaza.