Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has spoken with US President Joe Biden, discussing “progress in negotiations” to release Israeli hostages in Gaza, under the recently-agreed ceasefire deal.

“The PM discussed with the president the progress in negotiations to release our hostages and updated him on the mandate he gave to the negotiating team to Doha to advance the release of our hostages,” a statement from Netanyahu’s office said.

Netanyahu thanked “President Biden and President-elect Donald Trump for cooperating in this sacred mission”, it added.