Trump invites Netanyahu to White House meeting

U.S. President Donald Trump has invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a meeting at the White House on February 4, according to a statement from the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, reports a Kazinform News Agency correspondent.

Trump invites Netanyahu to White House meeting
Photo credit: Amos Ben Gershom/IMAGO/ZUMA Press Wire

The statement noted that Netanyahu will be the first foreign leader invited to Washington during Trump’s second presidential term.

Earlier, Israel’s N12 news portal reported that Netanyahu and Trump may meet amid ongoing negotiations on the second phase of a deal between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas for the release of hostages from the Gaza Strip. In addition to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the leaders are expected to discuss Israel’s relations with Saudi Arabia and the escalating tensions with Iran.

In mid-January, Israel and Hamas, with mediation from the U.S. and Qatar, signed a ceasefire agreement after 15 months of war. The deal took effect on January 19. Under its first phase, Hamas is set to release 33 hostages to Israel.

Earlier, it was reported that the Official Spokesperson of the Kazakh Foreign Ministry, Aibek Smadyarov, stated that Kazakhstan welcomes the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.

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