President Joe Biden's Middle East advisor Brett McGurk was in Egypt and would visit other countries, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said when asked about reports that Israel had proposed a two-month halt.

"Certainly one of the things he's in the region talking about is the potential for another captive deal, which would require a humanitarian pause of some length to get that done," Kirby told a briefing at the White House.

"The conversations are very sober and serious."

Kirby would not confirm the length of the pause under discussion, but said the White House would welcome one that was longer than the previous halt in November.

"If... that would give us the opportunity to get captives out and get more aid in, we would absolutely support a humanitarian pause of a longer length than the week that we were able to accomplish," he added.

* This story was edited buy Ahram Online.