In this file phot, US President Donald Trump (R) meets with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC AFP
It will be Netanyahu's fifth visit to meet Trump in the US since the start of the year and comes after the prime minister said he expected the second phase of the US-sponsored ceasefire plan for Gaza to begin soon. "The meeting between President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu will take place on Monday, December 29," the prime minister's office said.
Israel's Channel 12 reported that Netanyahu and Trump were expected to meet twice during an eight-day visit to the United States by the Israeli prime minister.
It said Netanyahu would visit Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
"We very shortly expect to move into the second phase, which is more difficult," Netanyahu said.
The first phase of the truce, in effect since October 10, has halted the Israeli war on Gaza that began on October 7, 2023.
It has also seen Hamas release 47 out of 48 captives held in Gaza, including the last 20 living captives.
The second stage of the plan concerns disarming Hamas, the further withdrawal of Israeli forces as a transitional authority is established, and the deployment of an international stabilisation force.
The United States is the primary military and diplomatic supporter of Israel, but areas of tension have emerged between the two allies, including the issue of annexing the Israeli-occupied West Bank, which has been rejected by the international community.
Several members of Netanyahu's government have called for the territory to be annexed, but Trump and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio have voiced their firm opposition to such a move.
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