Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has suggested that Israel should begin to phase out the billions of dollars in military assistance it receives from the US, according to the Maariv daily, reports Al Jazeera.

Netanyahu told the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee on Sunday evening that the country currently receives $4bn from the US annually.

“I think we will need to wean ourselves off American military aid,” he was quoted as saying.

While there were no further details on the motives behind Netanyahu’s statement, it comes amid reports of strained ties between the Israeli leader and US President Donald Trump, as well as direct talks between Hamas and the Americans on the release of captives.