President Joe Biden on Monday weighed an invitation to visit close US ally Israel to show support as it wages war against Hamas, abruptly canceling a domestic political trip to meet with his national security team.

Biden, 80, was due to visit Colorado to push his 2024 reelection campaign but stayed at the White House at the last minute for briefings amid mounting fears the conflict could spread.

The White House confirmed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had invited Biden following the deadly October 7 Hamas attack on Israel that killed more than 1,400 people, but said there were no travel plans yet.

Any visit would be very sensitive, as Israel prepares to launch a ground invasion of Hamas-ruled Gaza and bombard it with air and artillery assaults that have killed at least 2,750 people, according to the health ministry.

A journey to Israel would also be dangerous in terms of security. When air raid sirens went off during a visit to Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Monday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was rushed to a bunker.

The White House said Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were "briefed by their national security team on the latest updates in the aftermath of Hamas's abhorrent attack in Israel and the resulting conflict in Gaza."

CIA chief Bill Burns, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan led the briefing, which was also joined by Biden’s chief of staff, Jeff Zients, it said, releasing a picture on social media of the group sitting in the Oval Office.

‘Extremists’

Biden has repeatedly pledged strong support for close US ally Israel but has also increasingly stressed the need to protect civilians amid the Israeli bombardment and siege of Gaza. Biden also spoke with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Monday and they agreed on the need to “not allow the circle of conflict to expand,” the Egyptian presidency said. They also discussed “protecting civilians and delivering humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier spoke to both Netanyahu and Sisi on the situation, the Kremlin said.

Israel has ruled out a temporary ceasefire to let aid into or foreigners out of the only non-Israeli border crossing between Egypt and Gaza, Rafah.

According to the White House, Biden spoke with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who is scheduled to visit Egypt and Israel, as well as Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.

Earlier, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby confirmed US reports that Netanyahu had invited Biden to visit Israel.

"With respect to Israel, there was an invitation from the prime minister, but again — no travel to speak to right now," Kirby was quoted as saying by CNN.

Democrat Joe Biden and right-wing Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu had a rough relationship that was partially patched up in New York in September — and since the Hamas assaults, Biden has offered nothing but support.

The US has also sent two aircraft carriers to the region, and Biden has cautioned Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah not to become involved.

Biden was scheduled to visit a wind turbine plant in Colorado to promote the economic rebirth and pro-environmental principles at the heart of his reelection campaign in 2024.

The White House announced that the visit would be rescheduled.

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Biden visited another conflict zone, Ukraine, which was occupied by Putin's Russia, in a high-risk trip planned in complete secret in February. He was last in Israel in July 2022.