US President Joe Biden has pressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the need to quickly achieve a ceasefire and release of hostages in the Gaza Strip.

The White House released a written summary of Biden's telephone call with Netanyahu on Wednesday.

It said, "The President stressed the urgency of bringing the ceasefire and hostage-release deal to closure."

Negotiators have been struggling to close the remaining gaps between Israel and Hamas. Hamas has expressed opposition to what it says are conditions favorable to Israel that have been added in the latest proposal.
Media reports say the next round of negotiations will be held in Egypt--one of the mediating countries--on Thursday and Friday.

The White House statement said Biden and Netanyahu "discussed upcoming talks in Cairo to remove any remaining obstacles."

Meanwhile, the US Central Command on Wednesday said the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln arrived in the Middle East.

This comes as Iran says it will retaliate against Israel, which it blames for the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last month.

The carrier strike group's deployment is apparently aimed at strengthening US support for Israel's defense and to keep Iran in check.