US President Joe Biden has reportedly engaged in talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to expedite efforts for a truce between Israel and Hamas.

According to a report by Axios, Biden and Netanyahu had a telephone conversation, during which the US President emphasized the urgency of finalizing a truce deal. "It is time to close the deal," Biden reportedly stated, urging for the release of Israeli captives and a ceasefire in Gaza.

The conflict, which began in October, has resulted in over 38,000 Palestinian deaths, predominantly women, children, and adolescents. This escalation was triggered by Hamas capturing hundreds during a surprise retaliatory operation against the occupied territories.

In November, a seven-day truce mediated by Egypt and Qatar saw the exchange of 105 Israeli captives for 240 Palestinian prisoners. Hamas has insisted that any new truce must include an end to the war, a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and a comprehensive captive/prisoner exchange.

However, Israel has maintained that it will only agree to temporary pauses in fighting until Hamas is "eradicated."

Axios noted that a successful truce deal would be a significant foreign policy achievement for Biden, who is currently facing intense criticism following a poor performance in the first presidential debate against Donald Trump.

Despite Netanyahu's agreement to send a delegation for further negotiations, he reiterated Israel's commitment to continuing the war until all its objectives are met.

This ongoing dialogue underscores the complex and volatile nature of the conflict and the challenging path toward a lasting resolution.