Amman  - Jordan's King Abdullah II and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas warned Wednesday that an Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip would "jeopardize" peace and stability in the region, according to a royal court statement.

"The current escalation in the Gaza Strip, the threat to launch a large-scale offensive on the territory and Israel's expansion of settlements, particularly in Jerusalem, represent a grave danger to the stability and security in the region and jeopardises peace efforts," King Abdullah said.

Abbas told reporters after his talks with the monarch that any such Israeli move would have a "catastrophic effect", but he also called on Hamas to stop firing missiles on Israeli towns.

Israel has warned that it might launch an offensive if Egyptian efforts to mediate a truce ending the daily rocket and mortar attacks from the Gaza Strip failed.

King Abdullah expressed support for Abbas' endeavours to reach reconciliation with the Hamas movement, which broke with the president's Fatah group a year ago by seizing control of the Gaza Strip by force.

Abbas briefed the monarch on his earlier talks in Cairo with Egyptian President Hosny Mubarak on the prospects of Cairo hosting a dialogue between Fatah and Hamas and mediating a truce between Israel and Hamas. (dpa)