WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden hosted Jordan’s King Abdullah II at the White House on Monday for discussions about efforts to release hostages held in Gaza and growing concerns about a possible Israeli military operation in the border town of Rafah.

It was the first meeting between the allies since three American soldiers were killed in a drone strike on a US base in Jordan last month. Biden blamed Iran-backed militias for the deaths, the first for the U.S. after months of attacks by such groups against American forces across the Middle East since the start of the Israel-Hamas war.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the two leaders would discuss efforts to end the conflict, humanitarian assistance to Gaza and “a vision for a lasting peace that supports the viability of a two-state solution with guaranteed security.” “Includes Israel.”

The meeting with King Abdullah II comes as Biden and his aides work to bring about another pause in Israel’s war against Hamas, to send humanitarian aid and supplies to the region and to free hostages. The White House is facing growing criticism from Arab Americans over the administration’s continued support of Israel amid rising casualties in Gaza since Hamas launched its attack on Israel on Oct. 7.

Biden, along with his wife Jill, welcomed the King, Queen Raina, and Crown Prince Hussein to the White House before the leaders met. The president and king were scheduled to make statements Monday afternoon.

It seemed as if an agreement for another break in fighting was imminent. A senior U.S. government official said Sunday that after weeks of shuttle diplomacy and phone calls, a framework for a deal was essentially in place that would include the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas in Gaza in exchange for a cessation of fighting.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the negotiations, acknowledged there were still gaps but declined to elaborate. The official said Israeli military pressure on Hamas in Khan Younis in recent weeks had helped push the militant group closer to an agreement. The possibility of a deal was the subject of Biden’s talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday and was expected to come up in his talks with the king on Monday.

Kirby said the U.S. still opposes a general ceasefire in Gaza, as Abdullah and other regional leaders have called for.

Netanyahu and Biden also differed significantly over the possible expansion of Israeli military operations into Rafah and that Biden reiterated U.S. opposition to the idea under “current conditions” while more than 1.3 million people are seeking refuge there.

Kirby noted Monday that there were “legitimate military objectives” for the Israelis in Rafah, but said the Israelis must ensure their operations are aimed at protecting the lives of innocent civilians.

Biden, who last week called Israel’s military response in Gaza “excessive,” also called for “urgent and concrete” steps to strengthen humanitarian assistance.

The official said the Israelis had “made it clear that they would not consider an operation in Rafah” without protecting civilians. The official said the U.S. was unsure whether there was a viable plan to relocate civilians from Rafah to enable military operations.

Jordan and other Arab states have been highly critical of Israel’s actions and rejected public support for long-term planning about what happens next, arguing that fighting must end before such discussions can begin. They have been calling for a ceasefire since mid-October, when civilian casualties soared.

Biden had planned to visit Jordan during his October trip to Israel shortly after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, but the trip was canceled. On the way home from Israel, Biden announced that he had helped negotiate the first deal to temporarily halt fighting and open the Rafah border crossing to humanitarian aid.

In the months since, members of his administration have made repeated trips to the region to engage with leaders there.