The White House said on Sunday that it supports Israel's decision to delay releasing 600 Palestinian prisoners, citing the "barbaric treatment" of Israeli hostages by Hamas.

Zionism was always conceived as a colonial project - and now many in the West are starting to see the threat it poses

Benjamin Netanyahu has said "President Trump is the greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House" during a news conference on Sunday, 16 February with the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Michelle O'Neill and Mary Lou McDonald will boycott the event in light of Donald Trump's suggestion that Palestinians should be relocated from Gaza under his "takeover" plan.

Sinn Féin Senator Conor Murphy has said his party's boycott of St Patrick's Day celebrations in the US "wasn't a decision that was taken lightly", but was "necessary". On Friday, the party announced it will not travel to Washington DC for the annual festivities next month over US President Donald Trump's stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill said she couldn't ignore U.S. President Donald Trump's comments about expelling Palestinians from Gaza.