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.

Hamas said it has responded to the latest ceasefire proposal positively but there are still gaps to be bridged.

The Israeli Prime Minister 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, the BBC reported.