Discussing Gaza Crisis With President Biden At The White House, Jordanian King Abdullah II: We Can't Be Silent

Jordanian King Abdullah II. (Wikimedia Commons/US Secretary of Defense)

JAKARTA - United States President Joe Biden held talks about the crisis in the Gaza Strip with King Abdullah II, when he received the Jordanian leader at the White House on Monday.

President Biden said the United States was pushing for a six-week halt to fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, as a stepping stone to a longer ceasefire.

He said the United States was working with allies in the Middle East in reaching an agreement to stop fighting, to allow the release of Gaza hostages and increase the flow of humanitarian aid.

"The key elements of the deal have been discussed. There is still a gap, but I have encouraged Israeli leaders to continue to strive to reach the deal. The United States will do everything possible to make it happen," President Biden said.

The deal will start with a battle break of at least six weeks, "which then we can take the time to build something more durable," Biden said.

Meanwhile, King Abdullah II on the same occasion again called for a broad ceasefire in the region.

"We can't remain silent and let this continue," he said, quoted by Reuters.

"We need a lasting ceasefire now. This war must end," he said.

It is known that the meeting of the two leaders came as Israel began an attack on Rafah, south of Gaza, a move President Biden previously highlighted when speaking with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.