King Abdullah II of Jordan headed Wednesday to Italy and the United States of America, on a working visit during which he will discuss ways to stop the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, with officials from both countries.

A statement from the Jordanian Royal Court said that King Abdullah left today for Italy and the United States of America on a working visit.

It explained that the visit "comes within the framework of Jordan's efforts to reach an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and stop the humanitarian catastrophe in the Strip."

The statement did not specify the program of the visit, and whether King Abdullah would visit Italy first or vice versa.