Trump pushes Netanyahu on Gaza peace plan at White House talks

WASHINGTON, Sept 29 (AFP): US President Donald Trump was set to push Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to an elusive Gaza peace plan on Monday in high-stakes talks at the White House.

Trump has presented a 21-point plan to both sides to end the nearly two-year war, free hostages held by Hamas and disarm the Palestinian militants.

The US leader said Sunday on social media that "ALL ARE ON BOARD FOR SOMETHING SPECIAL, FIRST TIME EVER," and held talks with key Arab leaders at the United Nations last week.

But Netanyahu has given little reason for optimism, vowing in a defiant UN speech Friday to "finish the job" against Hamas and rejecting Palestinian statehood -- recently recognized by several Western nations.

The White House announced that the pair are scheduled to hold a joint news conference at 1:15 pm (1715 GMT), in an apparent indication that Trump is hoping to announce a deal.