US PRESIDENT Donald Trump has invited Israeli Prime Minister and alleged war criminal Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House next week as the first foreign leader to visit in Mr Trump’s second term.

Tuesday night’s announcement came as world governments continue to press Israel and Hamas to abide by the ceasefire agreement that paused Israel’s genocidal 15-month destruction of Gaza.

Talks on the ceasefire’s more difficult second phase, which aims to end the war, begin next Monday.