An Israeli delegation left for Qatar on Sunday for talks on a possible Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal, an Israeli official said, hours before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was due to head to Washington to meet U.

Delegations from Israel and Hamas have begun an indirect round of ceasefire talks in Qatar, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu heads to Washington to meet Donald Trump. Netanyahu said he thinks his meeting with the US president on Monday should help progress efforts to reach a deal for the release of more hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza.

Ceasefire hopes dim as the first round of indirect talks between Israel and Hamas ends inconclusively in Doha, Qatar. According to Palestinian sources, the Israeli delegation arrived without the authority to finalize a deal — casting serious doubt on Netanyahu’s commitment to ending the war.