"That is also something we discussed with Israel, something we continue to discuss with Egypt – the importance of the Rafah crossing being open for American citizens and for foreign nationals of other countries who want to leave and have the right to leave," a US official who spoke on condition of anonymity told AFP.

There are between 500-600 US citizens currently in Gaza according to news reports.

According to the AFP, US officials also appeared to backtrack on earlier efforts to let Gazans flee to adjacent Egypt, saying they did not see wide support and instead wanted safe areas within Gaza.

In a speech at the Military Academy during the graduation ceremony of a new batch of military cadets on Thursday, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi slammed the suggestion indirectly saying that the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip must stay steadfast and "remain on their land," warning of "the liquidation" of the Palestinian cause.

On Friday, King Abdullah II of Jordan warned of "any attempt to expel Palestinians from any of the Palestinian lands or cause them to flee “according to Jordan's official news agency Petra.

Abdullah II affirmed that the crisis should not be moved to neighbouring countries.