US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had a lengthy phone call today, Sunday, to discuss the ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza and efforts to release the remaining hostages held by Hamas in the enclave.

Israeli Channel 12 reported that the call lasted about 45 minutes. This was the first conversation between the two leaders since Biden said Israel's response to Gaza was "over the top."

The conversation focused on three issues, according to the report: the planned Israeli attack on Rafah, Hamas’s last stronghold in Gaza, increasing delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians, and the halt of hostage negotiations which could also include a ceasefire.

According to a White House statement, Biden “reaffirmed our shared goal of seeing Hamas defeated and ensuring Israel's security and its people in the long term” and “discussed ongoing efforts to secure the release of all remaining hostages held by Hamas.”

Biden also stressed "the need to capitalize on progress made in negotiations to secure the release of all hostages as soon as possible," calling for urgent and specific steps to increase humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians.

The White House says Biden reiterated his view that the military operation in Rafah should not continue without a "credible and feasible plan to ensure the safety of more than one million people who have sought refuge in the city."

Netanyahu said in an earlier interview that Israel would pursue Hamas in Rafah “while providing a safe passage for civilians.”

Biden and Netanyahu agreed to stay in close contact, according to the report.

Meanwhile, CIA Director William Burns is expected to arrive in Cairo on Tuesday to hold talks with mediators about a possible truce. Israel has so far refused to send representatives, given Hamas's demands, which it describes as "unrealistic," including a permanent ceasefire, withdrawal of forces from Gaza, reconstruction of the enclave, and release of about 1500 Palestinian prisoners, including the masterminds of the movement, in exchange for the release of the remaining hostages.