The US and Israeli leaders spoke hours after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken ended a tour of the Middle East aimed at reaching an accord as tensions rise in the region.

In a statement on X, Biden said he "made clear that we must bring the ceasefire and hostage release deal to closure and discussed upcoming talks in Cairo to remove any remaining obstacles."

He also updated Netanyahu on "US efforts to support Israel's defense against threats from Iran and its proxy terrorist groups", after Tehran threatened revenge for the assassination of  Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.

The White House said separately in a readout of the call that the US president "stressed the urgency" of reaching a deal.

Vice President Kamala Harris, who replaced Biden as the Democratic presidential nominee to face Republican Donald Trump in November's US election, also took part in the call, it said.

The Axios news outlet said earlier that Biden was set to push Netanyahu to be more flexible in the talks, which are being brokered by the United States, Egypt and Qatar.

It said the US leader would focus on a demand for Israel to maintain control of the Philadelphia Corridor, the border between Gaza and Egypt that Israeli forces have seized.