CAIRO, Egypt: This week, both Hamas and Israel shared their views ahead of expected peace talks about a new U.S.-backed ceasefire plan. Hamas showed it might be open to an agreement, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said clearly that "there will be no Hamas" in Gaza after the war.

Neither side has entirely accepted the deal announced on July 1 by U.S. President Donald Trump. Hamas repeated its long-standing demand: the war in Gaza must completely end as part of any deal.

Trump said Israel had agreed to a 60-day ceasefire and asked Hamas to accept the plan soon, warning that things could get worse if they delay. Trump has been pushing both sides to agree to stop fighting and to free the remaining hostages.

He said the 60 days would be used to work on ending the war, but Israel says it won't agree to peace until Hamas is defeated.

A Hamas spokesperson, Taher al-Nunu, said the group is "ready and serious" about reaching a deal. He said Hamas would accept any plan that clearly leads to a complete end to the war.

A Hamas team is expected to travel to Cairo to meet with Egyptian and Qatari mediators to discuss the plan. An Egyptian official confirmed this but asked to remain anonymous because he was not allowed to speak to the press.

Ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas have failed many times over disagreements about whether the war should fully end.

On July 2, Hamas confirmed that it had received a new proposal from the mediators and was talking to them to try to reach common ground.

Hamas said it is willing to release the remaining 50 hostages, although fewer than half are believed to be still alive. In return, Hamas wants Israel to pull all its troops out of Gaza and stop the war.

But Israel says the war will only end if Hamas surrenders, gives up its weapons, and leaves Gaza—demands Hamas refuses.

Prime Minister Netanyahu repeated his strong stance: "There will be no Hamas."

An Israeli official said the current proposal includes a 60-day ceasefire, a partial Israeli troop withdrawal, and a significant increase in aid for Gaza. Talks to end the war could take place during this time, but Israel has not promised to agree to peace.

It's unclear how many hostages might be released, but earlier deals suggested around 10 could be freed.

"I'm praying this happens," said Idit Ohel, whose son is one of the hostages. "I hope the world pressures everyone to stop the war and bring the hostages home."

Trump will meet Netanyahu at the White House on Monday.

This week, Trump wrote on social media that Israel had "agreed to the necessary conditions to finalize" the 60-day ceasefire, "during which time we will work with all parties to end the War."

"I hope, for the good of the Middle East, that Hamas takes this Deal, because it will not get better — IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE," he said.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich however said this week that he would oppose any agreements that would end the fighting in Gaza.

"I can tell you with all my heart that it won't happen. I'm talking to Netanyahu about it, and I don't get the impression that he's on his way there," Smotrich said.