With just a week left before Donald Trump's inauguration, the Biden administration is touting a last-minute breakthrough in negotiations to stop the war in Gaza in exchange for the release of hostages.
Lame duck president Joe Biden pushed for a cease-fire Sunday in a phone call with Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, the White House said.
The tentative peace deal, which would require the release of Israeli hostages being held by Hamas, is structured a on three-phase plan the White House proposed last year.
A peace deal has eluded the White House for months, but there has reportedly been a breakthrough ahead of Trump's inauguration next week.
In a sign of how seriously engaged Israel is, Netanyahu reportedly has sent the head of Mossad, Israel's intelligence agency, to Qatar for talks.
Donald Trump's team has joined the peace talks, which have been led by the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt - with little to show for it until now.
The White House took credit for the diplomatic progress, pointing to regional developments that may have calmed Israel's fears about ending the war.
"The President discussed the fundamentally changed regional circumstances following the ceasefire deal in Lebanon, the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, and the weakening of Iran's power in the region," the White House said in a statement.
"(Mr. Biden) stressed the immediate need for a ceasefire in Gaza and return of the hostages with a surge in humanitarian aid enabled by a stoppage in the fighting under the deal," the White House said.
A cease-fire and hostage release would be a valedictory win for Biden, who is leaving office as one of the most unpopular presidents of modern history.
A peace deal would also satisfy Trump, who has warned there will be "hell to pay" if Hamas does not let the hostages go before January 20.
During a Fox News segment Sunday, Trump's vice president J.D. Vance credited a potential agreement to pressure on Hamas from Trump.
“We’re hopeful there’s a deal that’s struck toward the very end of the Biden administration, maybe the last day or two,” Vance said. “But regardless of when that deal is struck, it will be because people are terrified that there are going to be consequences for Hamas.”
National security adviser Jake Sullivan said a peace deal rises above the factional interest of any particular party or administration - while he hedged that the ink is not dry yet.
"We are close to a deal, and it can get done this week," national security adviser Jake Sullivan said during a press briefing at the White House. "I'm not making a promise or a prediction, but it is there for the taking and we are going to work to make it happen."
