Biden and Netanyahu discuss the latest developments in efforts to broker a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Gali, grieving the loss of her son, Sgt. Yahav Maayan, who was killed in combat in the Gaza Strip, mourns beside his grave during his funeral at a military cemetery in Modiin, Israel, on Sunday, January 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (NB360) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Joe Biden engaged in discussions on Sunday regarding efforts to secure a ceasefire and hostage release deal in the Israel-Hamas conflict, highlighting the intensified drive to finalize an agreement before Donald Trump’s inauguration next week.

Negotiations mediated over the past year by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar have faced repeated impasses even when close to a resolution. Nonetheless, recent statements from U.S. officials convey optimism about finalizing a deal.

Sunday’s conversation between Biden and Netanyahu coincided with the presence of Israel’s Mossad chief, David Barnea, and Biden’s top Middle East adviser, Brett McGurk, in Doha, Qatar. Barnea’s involvement, confirmed by Netanyahu’s office, indicates that high-level Israeli officials, crucial for approving any agreement, are now actively participating in the discussions.

McGurk has been fine-tuning the final details of a proposal to present to both parties, as stated by Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, on CNN’s “State of the Union.” However, he refrained from predicting whether a deal will be finalized by Jan. 20, the inauguration day.

“We are very, very close,” he affirmed. “Yet being very close still means we’re far because until you actually get across the finish line, we’re not there.”

The White House and Netanyahu’s office both acknowledged the phone conversation between the two leaders without disclosing specifics.

Only one brief ceasefire has been achieved in 15 months of conflict, occurring in the early stages of the fighting. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken remarked this week that a deal is “very close,” expressing hopes to conclude it before the transition to the Trump administration.

The current discussions involve a phased ceasefire, with Netanyahu indicating commitment only to the initial phase, which includes a partial hostage release in exchange for a temporary cessation of hostilities.

Hamas demands a complete Israeli troop withdrawal from the heavily damaged territory, while Netanyahu remains determined to dismantle Hamas' combat capabilities in Gaza.

Negotiation challenges involve determining which hostages would be released in the initial phase of the ceasefire deal, which Palestinian prisoners would be freed, and the scope of any Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza’s population centers.

Israel’s operations in Gaza have resulted in the deaths of over 46,000 Palestinians, primarily women and children, according to the territory’s Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between combatants and civilians. The campaign was initiated following Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7, 2023, where militants killed approximately 1,200 people and abducted around 250 others.

Families of the roughly 100 hostages still detained in Gaza are urging Netanyahu to secure a deal to bring their relatives home. Israelis gathered once more on Saturday night in Tel Aviv, displaying photos of the hostages.

In Gaza, Palestinians cautiously manage their expectations for an end to Israel’s campaign, which has severely impacted much of the territory, displacing over 80% of its 2.3 million residents.

“We hear that there are negotiations every day, but we see nothing,” stated Mazen Hammad, a resident of Khan Younis in the south. “When we see it on the ground, then we believe that there is a truce.”