Biden and Netanyahu Discuss Possible Cease-Fire and Hostage Deal

President Biden spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel on Sunday to discuss the prospects of a possible cease-fire deal to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas, while repeating his warnings about a new Israeli assault on city Rafah in southern Gaza, officials said.The call came just hours after Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken left Washington for his latest trip to the Middle East aimed at scaling back the war in Gaza. Mr. Blinken will start in Saudi Arabia, where he will see Egyptian and Qatari officials who have served as intermediaries with Hamas in the…