U.S. President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that he asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a pause in fighting in Gaza during a call on Monday.

"I didn't get a chance to talk to him today. I did ask him for a pause in the past — yesterday," Biden told reporters traveling with him in Washington, D.C. He did not say how long of a pause he requested.

A White House spokesperson previously said the two leaders discussed the potential for "tactical pauses" in fighting in Gaza for humanitarian reasons and possible hostage releases during their conversation on Monday.

Netanyahu on Tuesday reiterated in a televised statement that there will be no fuel delivered to the Gaza Strip and no ceasefire in Israel's fighting with Hamas unless hostages seized by the Palestinian militants are freed. 

(With input from agencies)