Tel Aviv, 7 July 2025 (dpa/MIA) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has departed for Washington for a trip lasting several days as ceasefire efforts draw closer to ending 21 months of war in Gaza.

"This is my third visit with (US President Donald Trump) since he was elected over six months ago," Netanyahu told journalists before his departure at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv.

Trump, meanwhile, told reporters in New Jersey on Sunday that he believed a hostage release and ceasefire deal could be reached this week.

"I think we're close to a deal on Gaza. We could have it this week," he said.

Netanyahu said he would also hold talks with US government officials, representatives of both congressional parties and other key officials.

The trip to Washington comes less than two weeks after the end of a 12-day war with Iran, during which Israel and the US destroyed key facilities of Iran's nuclear programme.

Netanyahu said the airstrikes on Iran, which killed more than 900 people according to Iranian officials, would now make it possible to expand "the circle of peace, far beyond what we could have imagined previously."

He added that the changed realities would bring a "great future" for Israel and the entire Middle East.

On the topic of the war in Gaza, Netanyahu said he had sent a negotiating delegation to indirect talks with Hamas in Doha, the Qatari capital.

Talks are aimed at securing a 60-day ceasefire, during which 10 of the 20 living Israeli hostages held by Hamas are to be released. During this ceasefire, the parties are to negotiate a permanent end to the war and the release of the remaining hostages. Qatar, Egypt and the US are mediating the talks.

"We are working to achieve the much discussed deal, on the conditions that we have agreed to," Netanyahu said. This refers to a proposal drafted by US mediator Steve Witkoff, who was appointed by Trump.

Hamas had agreed to the proposal in principle but had requested certain amendments, which Israel has rejected.

Netanyahu said he was determined to achieve three goals: to bring all hostages home, both the living and the dead; to eliminate Hamas's capabilities and expel the organization from the Gaza Strip; and to ensure that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel.

Experts and diplomats in Israel believe the remaining differences between Israel and Hamas can be bridged.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict flared up again after the Hamas-led attacks of October 2023, which led to around 1,200 people being killed and 250 taken hostage.

Israel's attacks on Gaza then led to the widespread destruction of the Palestinian territory and the killings of more than 57,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to health officials in the densely populated area.