U.S. and Israeli officials are trying to brush off several days of behind-the-scenes tensions over the Trump administration's unprecedented talks with Hamas ahead of crucial Gaza negotiations this week.

Adam Boehler suggested Hamas was willing to lay down its arms in exchange for a truce, in comments that frustrated some Israeli officials already concerned by his direct talks with the group.

An Israeli air strike killed four Palestinians in Gaza on Tuesday, the territory's civil emergency service said, as Arab mediators and the United States tried to hammer out differences between Hamas and Israel over a January 19 ceasefire agreement.