Brett McGurk, the White House coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, is expected to arrive in Israel today after visiting Egypt as part of US efforts to broker a peace deal, Al Jazeera reports.

Hamas said its chief, Ismail Haniyeh, was also in Cairo for talks.

Former Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz said there were efforts to “promote a new plan” for the return of the captives “that indicate the possibility of progress in this direction”.

A US State Department spokesperson said Washington was hoping for an “agreement that secures a temporary ceasefire”.

However, Netanyahu has insisted the army will keep fighting until it has destroyed Hamas and freed the remaining captives, with the Knesset on Wednesday overwhelmingly backing his proposal to oppose any unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state.