Netanyahu heads to Washington to meet with Trump to discuss Gaza ceasefire agreement

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will head to Washington, D.C., on Sunday for his third visit to the United States in six months. He is scheduled to meet with US President Donald Trump, who is seeking to advance a ceasefire in Gaza and conclude a prisoner exchange deal.

According to Israeli media, the visit's agenda includes discussing a proposal for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, accompanied by the release of Israeli prisoners held by Hamas in batches and the renewal of humanitarian aid deliveries to the Strip.

The most prominent elements of the US proposal include a subsequent transition to talks aimed at ending the war, along with Trump's vision for launching a broader regional political dialogue beyond the Gaza issue.

Meanwhile, Israeli media reported that Israel had decided to send a negotiating delegation to the Qatari capital, Doha, to discuss the details of the proposal, after receiving a response from Hamas.

A senior Israeli official confirmed to Channel 12 that the decision to send the delegation had been officially made, while the Israeli Broadcasting Authority indicated that the delegation would likely depart for Qatar on Sunday. The authority noted that Israel did not completely reject Hamas's response, considering it "contains points that can be built upon."

Israel witnessed intense discussions prior to Netanyahu's trip to Washington, amid US efforts to achieve tangible progress in the negotiations. Reports indicate that President Trump is insisting on playing a central role in advancing the agreement this time, even placing it at the heart of his diplomatic efforts.

Trump warned in a post, "It won't get better, it will get worse," in an attempt to urge all parties to accept the deal.

According to Israeli media, US President Donald Trump's envoys met with Israeli officials and conveyed a precise US version of the proposal to the Qatari side, as part of efforts to reach a conclusion during Netanyahu's visit, or at least launch an irreversible negotiating process.

In addition to the political aspect, Washington and Tel Aviv are also discussing enhanced military cooperation. In recent days, a new agreement was proposed to support Israel militarily, including the provision of precision weapons for its defense and offensive systems.

According to reports, the American message carries a clear message: "If you conclude the deal, we will guarantee your security. If you do not conclude it, we will be forced to resort to other options."

Although Netanyahu has previously obstructed similar deals, Israeli estimates indicate that this time he appears to be "interested" in them for domestic political and security considerations.

People close to him say that in recent discussions, he preferred a ceasefire over escalating the fighting.