The White House issued a statement on Sunday saying that US President Joe Biden had a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "to discuss the latest developments in the Gaza ceasefire negotiations and the hostage file."

The statement said that Biden and Netanyahu discussed the ongoing negotiations in Doha regarding a ceasefire agreement and the release of hostages "based on the agreement reached on May 27, 2024, as stated by US President Biden in a speech from the White House on May 31."

According to the statement, a copy of which was received by Al-Quds.com, Biden and Netanyahu also discussed the fundamental changes in regional conditions after the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon, the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, and the weakening of Iran’s power in the region.

Biden also stressed the "urgent need" for a ceasefire in Gaza and the return of the hostages, with an increase in humanitarian aid made possible by the truce in fighting under the agreement.

For his part, the Israeli Prime Minister thanked the US President for his "continued support for Israel and for the exceptional support from the United States for Israel's security and national defense."

For his part, Netanyahu's office said in a statement that "the prime minister discussed with the US president the progress made in the negotiations to release the hostages, and informed him of the mandate he gave to the negotiating delegation to Doha to promote the release of the hostages."

The statement added that "the Prime Minister thanked US President Biden and President-elect Donald Trump for their cooperation in this sacred mission."

Indirect ceasefire negotiations resumed in Qatar late last week.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu met Saturday with US President-elect Donald Trump's envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, who arrived in Israel to push for a ceasefire agreement before January 20, the date Trump officially takes office for the next four years.

US President Joe Biden announced last Thursday that there was "real progress" in the negotiations. As for Trump, he threatened to turn the region into "hell" if the hostages were not released before his return to the White House.

In this regard, the Israeli Broadcasting Authority quoted sources it described as high-ranking, saying that despite the progress made in the negotiations, there are still differences and “not all outstanding issues have been settled.”

US President Biden is expected to deliver his final foreign policy speech on Monday, January 13, seven days before he leaves office as US president.