The Israeli Walla website quoted an official in the Prime Minister's Office as saying that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to hold consultations with the team in charge of prisoner exchange negotiations - this Sunday afternoon - hours before his travel to the United States.

Earlier, the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation reported that Netanyahu is reluctant to ratify a deal with the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) before traveling to Washington.

The Israeli authority added that Netanyahu has not yet authorized the negotiating team to return to the Qatari capital to resume negotiations and put the final touches on the deal.

Netanyahu is scheduled to deliver a speech before both chambers of the US Congress on July 24, in response to an official invitation from the leaders of the Democratic and Republican parties.

Netanyahu's visit to Washington comes amid increasing pressure on his government to conclude an agreement to end the war on Gaza, which has caused increasing diplomatic isolation for Israel.

Meanwhile, dozens of families of Israeli prisoners in the Gaza Strip are demanding that the Prime Minister sign a deal to return their families before his expected trip to Washington.

Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper said that thousands of Israelis demonstrated yesterday in several cities, including Tel Aviv, Haifa and Caesarea, to demand the conclusion of an exchange deal.

In recent weeks, the intensity of disagreements and exchanges of accusations between Netanyahu and leaders of the Israeli security system regarding the prisoner exchange deal with Hamas has escalated.