King Abdullah Meets Biden in Washington in Efforts to Achieve a Ceasefire in Gaza

U.S. President Joe Biden is meeting with Jordan's King Abdullah at the White House today, Monday. The two leaders are set to have discussions in the Oval Office, followed by statements to the media. This meeting comes at a time when Biden is explicitly urging Israel not to carry out a ground assault on the city of Rafah in southern Gaza without a plan to protect the Palestinian civilians who are gathering there. Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, and the White House stated that Biden emphasized that "any military operation in Rafah should not proceed without a reliable and executable plan to ensure the safety and support of more than a million people seeking refuge there." Prior to starting a tour in Western capitals, King Abdullah participated in an airlift operation for humanitarian aid to Gaza, highlighting the Kingdom's role in urging Israel not to hinder efforts to address disease, hunger, and famine in the war-torn territory. King Abdullah is expected to urge Biden to support an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.