Netanyahu visits US

ISRAEL'S Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he will discuss 'victory over Hamas, countering Iran and expanding diplomatic relations with Arab countries in his meeting with United States President Donald Trump this week.

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The meeting at the White House tomorrow will be Mr Trump's first with a foreign leader since returning to office for his second term as president. It comes as US and Arab mediators begin the daunting work of brokering the next phase of an agreement to wind down the war in Gaza and release dozens of militant-held hostages.

The militant group Hamas, which has quickly reasserted its control over Gaza since the ceasefire took hold last month, has said it will not release the hostages due to go free in the second phase without an end to the war and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces.