US President Joe Biden has spoken with Jordan’s King Abdullah, discussing the push to reach a ceasefire in the devastating Gaza conflict, AFP reports the two countries as saying.

“The president updated King Abdullah on his ongoing efforts to secure a hostage release and ceasefire deal, and preparations for a surge in humanitarian assistance during a ceasefire period,” the White House said in a statement.

Jordan’s royal court confirmed the call, saying that King Abdullah “stressed the need to end the war on Gaza immediately and ensure the flow of sufficient aid through all crossings, while guaranteeing its delivery to civilians across the Strip without delay or hindrance”.

The United States is pushing to bring the conflict to a close, and the news outlet Axios reported that CIA Director Bill Burns was expected to hold talks on the issue in Rome on Sunday with Israeli, Qatari and Egyptian officials.