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Efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza provide the backdrop, but Biden’s leadership also hopes to convince Saudi Arabia to establish comprehensive relations with Israel.
By Michael Crowley, Cassandra Vinograd and John Yoon
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, the first trip to the Middle East as part of efforts to broker a deal between Israel and Hamas for a pause in the Israeli offensive in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages. and a flow of other humanitarian aid into the Palestinian territory.
The visit to the city of Jeddah came as Biden’s leadership hoped to convince Saudi Arabia to establish diplomatic relations with Israel, a long-term goal that the U. S. considers important for stabilizing the Middle East as a whole.
The State Department stated that Blinken had met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister. Blinken is expected to travel to Egypt on Thursday to meet with the country’s “leaders,” the branch said. Do not call express officials.
The department separately stated that Blinken is also said to travel to Israel to discuss efforts to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza and to “significantly increase” humanitarian aid deliveries to the enclave. This is Blinken’s sixth visit to the region since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel sparked war in Gaza.
There was no immediate confirmation from the Israeli government. There were also no major details about the other people Blinken would meet.
Blinken told reporters in Manila on Tuesday that his Middle East talks would include post-war plans for Gaza and the region as a whole.
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