DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Joe Biden spoke Sunday about efforts to reach a ceasefire and hostage release deal in the Israel-Hamas war, a sign of the intensifying push to reach a deal before Donald Trump’s inauguration next week.
Talks mediated over the past year by the United States, Egypt and Qatar have repeatedly stalled at moments when they seemed close to a deal. Still, in recent days, U.S. officials have expressed hope of sealing an agreement.
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Nir, the father of Israeli soldier Sergeant Yahav Maayan who was killed in combat in the Gaza Strip, reacts next to his son's grave during his funeral at a military cemetery in Modiin, Israel, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Mohammad Eid carries the body of one of his three relatives killed on Saturday in an Israeli airstrike, as they are prepared for the funeral in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Israeli soldiers and relatives carry the flag-draped casket of Sergeant Yahav Maayan, who was killed in combat in the Gaza Strip, during his funeral at a military cemetery in Modiin, Israel, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Israeli soldiers and relatives carry the flag-draped casket of Sergeant Yahav Maayan, who was killed in combat in the Gaza Strip, during his funeral at a military cemetery in Modiin, Israel, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
The family of Israeli soldier Sergeant Yahav Maayan who was killed in combat in the Gaza Strip, attends his funeral at a military cemetery in Modiin, Israel, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Gali and Nir, the parents of the Israeli soldier Sergeant Yahav Maayan who was killed in combat in the Gaza Strip, react next to his grave during his funeral at a military cemetery in Modiin, Israel, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Nir, the father of Israeli soldier Sergeant Yahav Maayan who was killed in combat in the Gaza Strip, reacts next to his son's grave during his funeral at a military cemetery in Modiin, Israel, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Mourners pray over the bodies of 5-year-old Dima Eid, her uncle, and her grandfather, who were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Saturday, during their funeral in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Mohammad Eid carries the body of one of his three relatives killed on Saturday in an Israeli airstrike, as they are prepared for the funeral in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Gali the mother of the Israeli soldier Sergeant Yahav Maayan who was killed in combat in the Gaza Strip, reacts next to his son's grave during his funeral at a military cemetery in Modiin, Israel, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
A girl watches as Mohammad Eid mourns his cousin Dima, along with her uncle and grandfather, who were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Saturday, during their funeral in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Gali the mother of the Israeli soldier Sergeant Yahav Maayan who was killed in combat in the Gaza Strip, reacts next to his son's grave during his funeral at a military cemetery in Modiin, Israel, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Sunday’s call between Biden and Netanyahu came as the head of Israel’s Mossad foreign intelligence agency, David Barnea, and Biden’s top Mideast adviser, Brett McGurk, were both in the Qatari capital Doha. Barnea’s presence, confirmed by Netanyahu’s office, meant high-level Israeli officials who would need to sign off on any agreement are now involved in talks.
McGurk has been working on final details of a text to be presented to both sides, Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, told CNN’s “State of the Union.” But he said he would not predict whether a deal can be reached by Jan. 20, the day of the inauguration.
“We are very, very close,” he said. “Yet being very close still means we’re far because until you actually get across the finish line, we’re not there.”
The White House and Netanyahu’s office both confirmed the phone call between the two leaders without providing details.
Just one brief ceasefire has been achieved in 15 months of war, and that was in the earliest weeks of fighting. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said this week a deal is “very close” and he hoped to complete it before handing over diplomacy to the incoming Trump administration.
Under discussion now is a phased ceasefire, with Netanyahu signaling he is committed only to the first phase, a partial hostage release in exchange for a weekslong halt in fighting.
Hamas has insisted on a full Israeli troop withdrawal from the largely devastated territory, but Netanyahu has insisted on destroying Hamas’ ability to fight in Gaza.
Issues in the talks have included which hostages would be released in the first part of a phased ceasefire deal, which Palestinian prisoners would be released and the extent of any Israeli troop withdrawal from population centers in Gaza.
Israel’s campaign in Gaza has killed more than 46,000 Palestinians, the majority women and children, according to the territory’s Health Ministry, whose count does not give a breakdown between fighters and civilians. Israel’s campaign was triggered by Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack, in which militants killed some 1,200 people and abducted around 250 others.
Families of the roughly 100 hostages still held in Gaza are pressing Netanyahu to reach a deal to bring their loved ones home. Israelis rallied again Saturday night in the city of Tel Aviv, with photos of hostages on display.
In Gaza, Palestinians were tempering their hopes for a stop to Israel’s campaign, which has devastated much of the territory and driven more than 80% of its 2.3 million people from their homes.
“We hear that there are negotiations every day, but we see nothing,” said Mazen Hammad, a resident of the southern city of Khan Younis. “When we see it on the ground, then we believe that there is a truce.”
Melzer reported from Nahariya, Israel.
Follow coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
Nir, the father of Israeli soldier Sergeant Yahav Maayan who was killed in combat in the Gaza Strip, reacts next to his son's grave during his funeral at a military cemetery in Modiin, Israel, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Mohammad Eid carries the body of one of his three relatives killed on Saturday in an Israeli airstrike, as they are prepared for the funeral in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Israeli soldiers and relatives carry the flag-draped casket of Sergeant Yahav Maayan, who was killed in combat in the Gaza Strip, during his funeral at a military cemetery in Modiin, Israel, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Israeli soldiers and relatives carry the flag-draped casket of Sergeant Yahav Maayan, who was killed in combat in the Gaza Strip, during his funeral at a military cemetery in Modiin, Israel, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
The family of Israeli soldier Sergeant Yahav Maayan who was killed in combat in the Gaza Strip, attends his funeral at a military cemetery in Modiin, Israel, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Gali and Nir, the parents of the Israeli soldier Sergeant Yahav Maayan who was killed in combat in the Gaza Strip, react next to his grave during his funeral at a military cemetery in Modiin, Israel, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Nir, the father of Israeli soldier Sergeant Yahav Maayan who was killed in combat in the Gaza Strip, reacts next to his son's grave during his funeral at a military cemetery in Modiin, Israel, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Mourners pray over the bodies of 5-year-old Dima Eid, her uncle, and her grandfather, who were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Saturday, during their funeral in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Mohammad Eid carries the body of one of his three relatives killed on Saturday in an Israeli airstrike, as they are prepared for the funeral in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Gali the mother of the Israeli soldier Sergeant Yahav Maayan who was killed in combat in the Gaza Strip, reacts next to his son's grave during his funeral at a military cemetery in Modiin, Israel, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
A girl watches as Mohammad Eid mourns his cousin Dima, along with her uncle and grandfather, who were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Saturday, during their funeral in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Gali the mother of the Israeli soldier Sergeant Yahav Maayan who was killed in combat in the Gaza Strip, reacts next to his son's grave during his funeral at a military cemetery in Modiin, Israel, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
SAALBACH-HINTERGLEMM, Austria (AP) — Lindsey Vonn got hooked on a gate and didn't finish her opening race at The Alpine skiing world championships on Thursday. Here’s a guide that tells you everything you need to know about the biggest skiing event outside of the Olympics: how to watch, what the schedule is and more.
Known as the skiing “worlds,” the championships are held every other year at different Alpine resorts. This year’s 13-day competition is being held in Saalbach-Hinterglemm in the Austrian state of Salzburg.
There are 11 medal events this year: the four traditional events of super-G, downhill, giant slalom and slalom for both women and men; a team parallel race; and new team combined events for women and men.
Gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded to the top three finishers in each event.
The competition is being held exactly a year before the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics.
Vonn has returned after nearly six years of retirement with a new titanium knee. She'll also compete in the downhill on Saturday, plus the new team combined event on Tuesday.
Mikaela Shiffrin has just returned from a severe puncture wound following a crash in late November and will compete in the giant slalom and slalom on Feb. 13 and 15, respectively.
The top men's racer is Swiss standout Marco Odermatt. He could compete in everything except the slalom.
In the U.S., races can be streamed on skiandsnowboard.live both live and on demand. Weekend events will also be shown on tape delay on NBC. The full U.S. schedule is here.
In Canada, races are streamed live on CBC. The full Canada schedule is here.
In Europe, races are shown live on Eurosport and a variety of national broadcasters.
The full race schedule is here.
The World Cup is skiing's “regular season” that lasts from October to March with races across the Alps and in the U.S.
The World Cup goes on break during the world championships and Olympics, which are the biggest events in skiing.
No. Shiffrin has a record 99 World Cup wins but she can't get to No. 100 at worlds. That's because races at worlds are considered a different competition and do not count toward World Cup statistics.
Shiffrin's next chance to get to No. 100 will come at her next World Cup stop in Sestriere, Italy, from Feb. 21-23.
Get caught up:
— Lindsey Vonn hooks a gate with her arm and doesn’t finish her opening race at skiing worlds
— US skier Lauren Macuga shows off her ‘weird dance moves’ to celebrate bronze in worlds debut
— Austrian gold at the skiing worlds in Austria finally pumps up the host nation
— Mikaela Shiffrin won’t team up with Lindsey Vonn in skiing dream team at Alpine worlds
— Italy’s Federica Brignone and Sofia Goggia are the women to beat at the skiing world championships
— Lindsey Vonn’s new titanium knee holds up fine in her 1st training run at the skiing worlds
— Italy edges Switzerland to win team parallel event at skiing worlds; US finishes 4th
— Snowboarding, skiing and now windsurfing? Ester Ledecka might have a 3rd Olympic sport
— Lindsey Vonn faces more criticism for competing at age 40 than Tom Brady, Lewis Hamilton
— Switzerland 11, Austria 0: Rival powerhouses enter ski worlds with contrasting win rates
— Lindsey Vonn thinks her new titanium knee could start a trend in skiing. And pro sports in general
— Mikaela Shiffrin prioritizes recovery over chasing World Cup win No. 100 in return from ski crash
— Mikaela Shiffrin finishes 10th in World Cup slalom on her injury comeback as Ljutic wins
— AP Exclusive: Lindsey Vonn plans to retire again after racing at the Olympics in 2026
— Mikaela Shiffrin healed from puncture wound suffered in ski crash, will race next week in France
— Lindsey Vonn is enjoying a break from American politics while she competes in Europe
AP skiing: https://apnews.com/hub/alpine-skiing
From left, Italy's Filippo Della Vite, Giorgia Collomb, Lara Della Mea and Alex Vinatzer celebrate winning the alpine ski, World Championship team parallel event, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)
United States' Lindsey Vonn speeds down the course during an alpine ski, women's World Championship downhill training, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)
United States' Lindsey Vonn gets ready to start an alpine ski, women's World Championship downhill training, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)
Switzerland's Marco Odermatt is seen ahead of an alpine ski, men's World Cup downhill training, in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)
Switzerland's Marco Odermatt speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup Super-G, in Kitzbuehel, Austria, Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
United States' Lindsey Vonn reacts after completing an alpine ski, women's World Cup super G, in Garmisch, Germany, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Piermarco Tacca)
United States' Mikaela Shiffrin ahead of a women's World Cup slalom, in Courchevel, France, Thursday Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)
United States' Mikaela Shiffrin speeds down the course during the first run of a women's World Cup slalom, in Courchevel, France, Thursday Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)