US President Joe Biden on Monday spoke to Jordan’s King Abdullah II, the White House said, with the two leaders discussing efforts to de-escalate rising tensions in the Middle East. The telephone call included talks on “an immediate ceasefire and hostage release deal” to end the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza, which has threatened to spiral into an all-out regional war. The tensions have reached new heights in recent days following the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in the Iranian capital Tehran. Hamas and Iran blame Israel for the attack, but …