Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Joe Biden held a high-stakes conversation on Sunday, discussing ongoing negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza as the clock ticks down on Biden's term. The talks, facilitated through intermediaries in Doha, are reaching a pivotal stage, with both leaders emphasizing the urgency of an agreement before January 20, when President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
Netanyahu's office stated that the prime minister briefed Biden on the progress of negotiations and the mandate given to Israeli negotiators, including Mossad chief David Barnea, to advance the deal. "The prime minister discussed with the American president the progress in the negotiations to release our hostages," the statement read. Netanyahu also expressed gratitude to Biden and Trump for their cooperation.
The White House reiterated Biden's call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the return of hostages, and increased humanitarian aid to the beleaguered enclave. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan tempered expectations, telling CNN's State of the Union on Sunday, "We are very, very close, and yet being very close still means we're far, because until you actually get across the finish line, we're not there."
The negotiations come at a critical juncture for Netanyahu, who faces mounting pressure from both the Biden administration and Trump's incoming team. Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, visited Netanyahu on Saturday before returning to Doha to monitor the discussions. Trump himself has issued stern warnings, stating that there would be "hell to pay" in the Middle East if hostages are not released by the time he takes office.
Trump's national security adviser-designate, Mike Waltz, added to the urgency, telling ABC, "I want to see [the hostages] walking across the tarmac, or at a minimum, some type of agreement before the inauguration because President Trump is serious."
The negotiations have been fraught with challenges. Netanyahu's coalition government is under strain, as far-right ministers, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, oppose any ceasefire without the complete destruction of Hamas. Both ministers have previously threatened to resign if a deal is struck that halts military operations prematurely.
Despite the internal tensions, Israeli negotiators expressed "cautious optimism" about progress in Doha. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar emphasized Israel's commitment to securing the hostages' release, saying, The government is making "every effor"t to reach a deal.
However, critics accuse Netanyahu of dragging his feet. In response, Omer Dostri, a spokesperson for the prime minister, pushed back against the claims, stating, "The prime minister works on this 24-seven, holds discussions into the night, and has conversations with leaders."
The Biden administration's Middle East envoy, Brett McGurk, has been stationed in Doha for over a week, negotiating the terms of a potential agreement. According to U.S. officials, the deal would pair the hostages' release with a ceasefire, a framework originally proposed by Biden in May.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a recent interview with CBS that any agreement would be "on the basis of what President Biden put forward."
Netanyahu also faces a rapidly shifting regional landscape. The White House noted in a statement that Biden and Netanyahu discussed "fundamentally changed regional circumstances," including the ceasefire in Lebanon, the collapse of the Syrian regime, and Iran's diminished influence.