America News Agency

The Israeli Prime Minister's office said U.S. President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on Thursday following news that Israel had killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.

Biden called Netanyahu from Air Force One. During the call, Biden praised the Israel Defense Forces for doing an "excellent job," according to a statement from the Israeli prime minister's office.

According to the statement, the two leaders also agreed that there was an opportunity to "advance the release" of the remaining hostages and that they would work together to achieve that goal.

"I told him we were pleased with his actions and also that now is the time to act," Biden later told reporters in Berlin. The U.S. president also said he planned to send U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to the region soon.

According to the Israeli Government Press Office, there are currently 109 Israeli hostages in Gaza, 36 of whom are believed to be dead.

The two leaders also discussed the "next day" in Gaza and "how we can secure Gaza and move on."