Biden, Netanyahu to speak as tensions mount over Israel war on Hamas, civilian deaths, hardship

President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are set to talk by phone Thursday, amid growing concerns in the U.S. and elsewhere about Israel's rough six-month war with Hamas in Gaza.

The call will be the first conversation between the world leaders since seven aid workers were killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza earlier this week.

The deaths have raised concerns about the number of civilian deaths in the Palestinian enclave and humanitarian efforts. 

Netanyahu has apologizes for the deaths, saying the air strikes on the World Central Kitchen convoy was accidental.

Biden has said he is “outraged and heartbroken” by the deaths Monday of the WCK humanitarian workers, according to NBC News. 

"Israel has not done enough to protect aid workers trying to deliver desperately needed help to civilians," Biden said in a statement Tuesday.

Netanyahu has said he Israel is "fully committed to enabling humanitarian aid to reach the civilian population in Gaza" and that his country will "do everything in [its] power to ensure that such tragedies do not occur in the future."

Biden and Netanyahu last spoke on March 18, NBC News also reports.