US President Joe Biden says the United States is trying to secure at least a six-week pause in the fighting between Israel and Hamas.

Biden spoke to reporters after meeting with King Abdullah of Jordan at the White House on Monday.

The US and others have been trying to broker an agreement to pause the fighting in Gaza and secure the release of the hostages being held by Hamas.

Biden said the US is working on a deal that will bring an "immediate and sustained period of calm to Gaza for at least six weeks."

He said, "There are gaps that remain." But he added that he has been encouraging Israeli leaders to keep working to achieve a deal. He said the United States will do everything possible to make it happen.

Biden also referred to moves by Israel to launch a ground offensive in the southern Gazan city of Rafah.

The president reiterated that Israel should not conduct a major operation without a "credible plan" that will ensure the "safety" of the "more than 1 million people sheltering there."

King Abdullah said an Israeli attack on Rafah is "certain to produce another humanitarian catastrophe." He added that a lasting ceasefire is needed "now." The king also said, "This war must end."