President Donald Trump will host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for talks at the White House next Monday as the U.S. leader has begun stepping up his push on the Israeli government to broker a ceasefire and hostage agreement and bring about an end to the war in Gaza.

President Trump raised expectations last week when he told reporters in the Oval Office that there could be a ceasefire agreement within the next week.

The US president urges a truce, as Israel orders a mass evacuation of Palestinians in large swathes of northern Gaza.