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.

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.

Israel has said it is sending a delegation to Qatar for ceasefire talks with Hamas about the war in Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said on Saturday. “In light of an