Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House

Administration officials have made it clear that phase two of the ceasefire plan - which could see the return of remaining hostages and a withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza - will be among the primary topics of discussion between Trump and Netanyahu this afternoon.

In the briefing call earlier today, one White House official told reporters that observers "will hear some unity in how they and we intend to pursue that".

"Normalisation is one of the top goals in the Middle East for President Trump and for this administration," the official added. "So that will be a focus."

Read more about the ceasefire plan here.

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House

We've just heard from the Trump administration's national security adviser, Michael Waltz, along with special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff.

Speaking to reporters outside the West Wing of the White House, Witkoff says that US and Israeli officials have done over "guidelines and parameters" for the second phase of the ceasefire plan.

He also says that the US government views a return to Gaza's destruction as unfeasible for its residents.

Witkoff adds that the administration believes it is "physically impossible" to repair Gaza to a level in which it is inhabitable within the timeframe he says is currently set out in the agreement.

"There's nothing left," he told reporters.

Waltz says the US is "looking to a number of partners in the region to solve this problem", referring to neighbouring countries like Egypt or Jordan to agree to taking displaced Palestinians.

Middle Eastern nations have consistently refused to transfer displaced people from Gaza, warning such a proposal threatens regional stability.

Waltz goes on to say Trump is "driving practical, common sense solutions to what is admittedly a very difficult situation".

Additionally, Waltz says that he believes that the current geopolitical situation in the Middle East - including a weakened Hezbollah, the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria and Iran being "on the back foot" - has created conditions for negotiations to bear fruit.

"There's a lot of opportunity in the region, and mostly, there is optimism," he says, adding that he believes that the region "is on the precipice" of expanding the Abraham Accords.

The accords were an agreement that led to a normalisation of ties between Israel, the UAE, Bahrain and several other countries at the end of Trump's first term.

Netanyahu is expected to arrive at the White House at 16:00 EST (21:00 GMT).

Image source, Getty Images

The Israeli prime minister's trip to the White House comes as he is facing both political and legal troubles in his home country.

He has been charged in three separate cases involving fraud, bribery and breach of trust. In one case, he is accused of accepting luxurious gifts from a wealthy businessman. He has denied all the charges.

Netanyahu is also struggling for political survival, with members of his far-right coalition pressuring him to resume Israeli's military offensive and put an end to the temporary cease-fire deal in Gaza.

If any of his other allies quit, his government would lose its majority in the Israeli parliament.

Nomia Iqbal
North America correspondent

I was just able to ask a few questions to senior White House officials just a few hours before Netanyahu's meeting with Trump.

I asked for clarity on Trump's recent comments, which we reported on earlier, saying that he wants to "clean out" Gaza, while many Palestinians say they want to go home.

National Security Adviser Michael Waltz says in response that Trump is looking at the situation "from a humanitarian standpoint".

"You have these people that are sitting with literally thousands of unexploded ordnance and piles of rubble," he says. "You know, at some point we have to look realistically... how do you rebuild Gaza?"

I asked whether people in Gaza would be able to return to their homes.

Waltz says it would take 10 to 15 years to rebuild Gaza, not five years.

US Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, says the conditions in the small territory of two million people are dangerous - with "buildings that could tip over at any moment" after more than a year of war.

"So when the president talks about cleaning it out, he talks about making it habitable. And this is a long-range plan," Witkoff says.

On his US visit so far, Netanyahu has already spoken with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff - who had emerged as a key mediator in the lead up to the ceasefire, even before Trump had taken office on 20 January.

Their conversation in the US follows a brief visit from Witkoff to Tel Aviv last week.

According to Netanyahu's office, the meeting with Witkoff in Washington yesterday signalled the start of negotiations around the second stage of the ceasefire deal.

Following talks, including with Witkoff, Netanyahu's office announced that Israel was preparing for a "working-level delegation to leave for Doha at the end of this week in order to discuss technical details related to the continued implementation of the agreement".

On the ceasefire, Witkoff said: "It's holding so far, so we're certainly hopeful."

Previous comments from President Trump have indicated that he would seek for Egypt and Jordan to take in Palestinians from Gaza after 15 months of fighting between Israel and Hamas.

Last month, Trump described Gaza as a "demolition site" while speaking to reporters on board Air Force One.

"You're talking about probably a million and a half people, and we just clean out that whole thing," he said, adding this could be "temporary" or "long-term".

"I'd rather get involved with some of the Arab nations and build housing at a different location where maybe they can live in peace for a change."

Hamas and the Palestinian Authority condemned the idea at the time.

Countries and organizations including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, the Palestinian Authority and the Arab League all rejected the idea of transferring Gazans to neighbouring countries.

The countries warned he move could "threaten the region’s stability, risk expanding the conflict, and undermine prospects for peace and coexistence among its peoples".

Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) have all welcomed the ceasefire and said they looked forward to working with Trump "to achieve a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East based on the two-state solution".

Posting on X on Sunday as he was leaving for the US, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was "telling" that this would be Trump’s first meeting with a foreign leader post inauguration.

"I think it's a testimony to the strength of the Israeli-American alliance," he wrote.

"It's also a testimony to the strength of our personal friendship."

Netanyahu added that topics that would be discussed in the meeting would include the release of all Israeli hostages and the threat from Iran.

Senior Trump administration officials have also said the pair plan to talk about maintaining the ceasefire and how to free the remaining hostages all well as how to work towards peace and stability in the Middle East.

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House

Earlier today, senior Trump administration officials briefed reporters on today’s meeting, saying that the US president is "extremely focused" on the remaining hostages and "ensuring that Hamas cannot continue to govern is and out of power".

One official said that, beyond that, Trump views Gaza as an uninhabitable "demolition site".

"[He] sees it as impractical for it to be rebuilt within three to five years [and] believes it will take at least 10 to 15 years," the official said, adding that Trump believes it is "inhumane" to force people to live there.

The official said that the administration is "looking for solutions for helping the people have Gaza have normal lives, while the Gaza Strip is ultimately being rebuilt".

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House

There’s extra tight security here on this sunny day at the White House ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s visit to see President Donald Trump.

Pennsylvania Avenue - which passes in front of the White House - is blocked off by two large dump trucks, a common practice during high security events in the area.

Extra black fencing has been put in place as well, and visitors to the White House are subject to repeated ID checks to ensure no trespassers are entering.

At Blair House, where foreign dignitaries stay during official visits, a large white tent has been put in front of the main door, obscuring views of anyone who goes in or out. An Israeli flag is now flying from the top, and multiple black SUVs are parked outside, with Secret Service agents milling about nearby.

Netanyahu is expected to arrive at 16:00 EST (21:00 GMT), where he'll be greeted by Trump near the West Wing of the White House. Shortly after that, the two will have a bilateral meeting - at first with the White House press pool and then behind closed doors.

Just after 17:00 EST (22:00 GMT), the two are expected to host a news conference.

Stay with us for more updates.

Do Trump and Netanyahu's goals align?published at 17:58 Greenwich Mean Time 4 February

17:58 GMT 4 February

Nomia Iqbal
North America correspondent

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to use this multi-day visit to the US to show he's close with President Donald Trump - relations were a lot more strained with former President Joe Biden.

Still, there might be some differences between Netanyahu and Trump, who wants a permanent end to the war and all hostages returned. But members of Netanyahu's right wing cabinet - who he needs to stay in power - want to resume attacks on Gaza until Hamas is completely destroyed.

With defence experts saying that is nearly impossible, Netanyahu may try to delay moving to the second phase of the deal, which calls for a permanent cease-fire.

He and Trump do agree on wanting to normalize relations with Saudis Arabia - but Riyadh wants a pathway to a Palestinian State.

Trump appears to not be on board with that demand. He recently said Gaza should be "cleaned out", but didn't add any details about what such a move would require.

Yolande Knell
Middle East correspondent

Image source, Reuters

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to shortly meet with President Trump in what will be the latter's first White House meeting with a foreign leader in his second term.

It comes at a critical juncture for the Gaza ceasefire with reports that indirect talks have begun on the sensitive second stage of the deal. The Israeli prime minister is also currently facing a struggle for his political survival.

He has repeatedly stated that the existing Gaza deal is for a temporary ceasefire and that Israel has reserved "the right to return to fighting" against Hamas, saying this would have US backing.

The two leaders are expected to discuss a range of regional issues as well including reviving efforts to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia and how to deal with Iran.

We'll be here this afternoon and into this evening to bring you the key developments, analysis and reaction.

But first we'll get you up to speed with the latest in the Middle East - stay with us.