Nikolay Mladenov, the high representative for Gaza, held “constructive and detailed” talks with Netanyahu and his team, the Board of Peace said in a statement. Mladenov also pressed Netanyahu to halt Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip, according to two people familiar with the meeting. Meanwhile, in Washington, members of the Board of Peace met with U.S. congressional staff on Monday to detail their ongoing efforts and to work with Congress “to advance peace, security, governance, and reconstruction in Gaza,” according to a brief statement released by the board. It calls for Israel to cease its military operations and for Hamas and its allies in Gaza to halt all militant activity. It also ramped up its strikes in Gaza, killing 17 people overnight Saturday and into Sunday, according to local health officials.