Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Sunday that he hoped his government was "the closest to a hostage deal since January" as Israel and Hamas were preparing for indirect negotiations in Egypt on Monday.

U.S. President Donald Trump has pressured both Israel and Hamas to accept his 20-point plan that would see the release of all remaining hostages and a phased Israeli withdrawal.

“I hope that we are the closest to a hostage deal since the deal in January," Saar said during an event in Jerusalem with Christians Friends of Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday a hostage release could be announced this week.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the situation is closer than ever to a ceasefire.

The foreign ministers of eight Muslim-majority countries have issued a joint statement welcoming steps toward a possible halt in fighting.

Meanwhile, strikes continued in Gaza with at least 12 people killed on Sunday, despite Trump ordering Israel to stop the bombing.