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January 13, 2025 | 01:10 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - US President Joe Biden called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A week before he leaves office, the White House said, US officials are racing to reach a deal on hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza.
Biden and Netanyahu discussed ongoing efforts to reach a deal to end the fighting in Gaza. Reuters reported that the talks also touched on the release of the remaining hostages there.
"Biden stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the return of the hostages with a surge in humanitarian aid made possible by the cessation of hostilities under the deal," the White House said.
Netanyahu updated Biden on progress in the talks and the mandate he had given to the delegation now in Doha. Israel sent a delegation to Doha to discuss the hostages.
According to the White House, Netanyahu and Biden also discussed the fundamental changes in regional conditions following the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon, the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, and the weakening of Iran's power in the region.
Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, told CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday that Israel and the United States were close to a deal, but that the deal was still being finalized.
Sullivan said Biden had been briefed on the outcome of the Doha talks. Israeli and Palestinian officials have said since Thursday that some progress has been made in indirect talks between Israel and the militant group Hamas.
"We remain determined to use every day that we have in office to get this done, and we're not going to rule it out," Sullivan said.
He said there was still a chance to reach a deal before Biden leaves office, but that Hamas was stubborn, Sullivan said.
During the call, Netanyahu also thanked Biden for his lifelong support of Israel. Netanyahu also said the American people's support for Israel has been overwhelming.
Vice President-elect J.D. Vance told "Fox News Sunday" that he hoped a deal to free U.S. hostages in the Middle East would be announced in the final days of the Biden administration. President-elect Donald Trump has been a strong supporter of Netanyahu's push to destroy Hamas.
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