US President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump intend to work together to achieve—by January 20—the release of Israeli hostages being held in the Gaza Strip, sources said, Axios reports. According to them, Biden held a meeting at the Oval Office with the relatives of Americans being held hostage by the radical Palestinian movement Hamas.

The president informed these families that he and Trump intend to ensure the release of the hostages by January 20, when the US president-elect’s inauguration will take place.

And during a two-hour conversation with Trump, Biden asked to join forces to reach an agreement between Israel and Hamas on the return of hostages and a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip.

Biden wants to use the remaining two months of his presidential term to get out of the protracted deadlock in negotiations on Gaza, Axios notes.

Trump probably wants to welcome his inauguration day with fewer crises in the world, the portal believes.

According to US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, the White House has sent a signal to Trump's team that it is ready to work together to have the hostages in Gaza released.