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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to visit Washington next Monday for talks with US President Donald Trump, as the White House intensifies efforts to bring an end to the war in Gaza.A senior US administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the upcoming visit but noted that it has not yet been formally announced. The meeting is aimed at advancing discussions on a ceasefire agreement and a possible hostage deal in Gaza.Netanyahu’s visit follows that of Israeli minister for strategic affairs Ron Dermer, who was in Washington earlier this week to hold talks with top US officials on Gaza, Iran and related issues.The visit also comes a week after a ceasefire took hold in the separate 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran. Trump has since shifted his focus to the ongoing fighting between Israel and Hamas, signalling a strong desire to broker peace.“We think within the next week we’re going to get a ceasefire,” Trump told reporters on Friday, although he did not provide further details about the negotiations or timeline.White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Monday that Trump and his team were in “constant communication with Israeli leadership” and that ending the conflict was a top priority for the President.“It’s heartbreaking to see the images that have come out from both Israel and Gaza throughout this war, and the President wants to see it end. He wants to save lives,” she said.Leavitt added that discussions were ongoing to arrange Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, although the date had not been officially confirmed. The timing of the visit was first reported by Axios.The war in Gaza began after Hamas launched a major surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. According to Israeli officials, 1,219 people were killed in the attack, most of them civilians, based on an AFP count.During the same attack, Palestinian militants took 251 hostages. The Israeli military says 49 of them are still in Gaza, including 27 who are believed to be dead.In response, Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza. According to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory, at least 56,531 people have been killed so far, with most of them also being civilians.
