Jerusalem/Washington, Sept 17 (UNI) US President Donald Trump has invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House on September 29, the Israeli premier said on Tuesday, three days after he is due to address the UN General Assembly in New York, reports Times of Israel.
Netanyahu announced the invitation at a Jerusalem press conference in which he discussed Israel's economy and issued a renewed warning to Hamas over the safety of hostages as Israeli forces press into Gaza City.
"This will be our fourth meeting in the White House since President Trump's second term began in January," Netanyahu remarked, adding that the invitation came during a phone call on Monday and that subsequent conversations with Trump had been "good."
Netanyahu announced the meeting during a press conference focusing on the state of Israel's economy, after he faced intense criticism for saying a day earlier that the country would need to become increasingly self-reliant.
However, he later issued a clarification over his remarks, stating that they pertained only to the defence sector which needed increased self-reliance, as the country is now facing an economic embargo -- particularly for weapon sales.
His comments come amidst the backdrop of the IDF's ground forces launched a full scale assault on Gaza City to capture it, amplifying its efforts to dismantle the terror group completely, with thousands of Hamas operatives confirmed to be hiding in different parts of the urban enclave.
Prior to the launch of the operation, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had departed Israel and headed off straight to Qatar.

Despite the US condemnation over the Doha attack, Rubio was noted to have shown firm support for Israel, saying that while the "ideal outcome" would for Hamas to surrender, it was unlikely, and thus "it may require ultimately a concise military operation to eliminate them," backing the country's bid to destroy the terror group.
Rubio chose not to add to international criticism of Israel for its strike on Hamas leaders in Doha last week, saying on Monday, "We are focused on what happens next."
With the IDF offence being criticised by hostage families – who have accused Jerusalem of condemning all the survivors to death -- Netanyahu said he discussed the issue of the hostages with Trump in their latest phone call.
Netanyahu – detailing his conversation with Trump - said that the two leaders discussed the major issue of hostage security, with Hamas reportedly having moved some of them to the enclave, to pressure Israel to halt its campaign.
"As Hamas's spokesperson said, they used our hostages as human shields — that is, placed them in locations that would endanger them. This is horrifying.
"It also horrified the President. He addressed it," Netanyahu said, referring to remarks by Trump on Monday warning Hamas against using the hostages as human shields."
Netanyahu, issued his own warning of brutal retaliation and remarked "If they harm a hair on the head of even one hostage, we will hunt them down with greater force until the end of their lives — and that end will come much faster than they think."
"And this is what I say to Hamas' leaders," Netanyahu continued, "You will have no shelter anyway. But our effort to reach you will be redoubled sevenfold, and we will reach you much faster than you think."
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