Top US diplomat Blinken meets Saudi Crown Prince in AlUla for Gaza talks

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met on Monday with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in AlUla to discuss the Gaza war.

Their private meeting in AlUla, a historic oasis in western Saudi Arabia, is the latest leg of Blinken’s rapid tour of the region as concerns over the Israel-Hamas war continue to mount.

“The Secretary underscored the need to urgently address the humanitarian situation in Gaza and prevent further spread of the conflict,” State Department Spokesman Matt Miller said.

The two officials also discussed ongoing efforts to reduce regional tensions, including the deterrence of Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea, according to Miller.

Blinken emphasized the importance of building a more secure, prosperous, and integrated region, including through the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, Miller said, adding that the importance of the strategic partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia was also touched upon.

In remarks to the press, Blinken said normalization with Israel was talked about. “But it will require that the conflict end in Gaza, and it will also clearly require that there be a practical pathway to a Palestinian state,” the top US diplomat said. Saudi Arabia has consistently said that a Palestinian state is a prerequisite to a peace deal with Israel.

According to the Saudi Press Agency, the two leaders discussed several topics including the bilateral relations between the Kingdom and the US, as well as areas of mutual cooperation and ways to enhance them for the benefit of both countries.

They also exchanged views on regional and international developments, emphasizing efforts towards achieving security and stability, SPA said.

MBS emphasized the crucial need to halt military operations in Gaza and establish a pathway for peace.

He highlighted the importance of efforts to establish conditions that would restore stability and promote a peaceful resolution, ultimately ensuring the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and achieving a just and enduring peace, SPA added.

Earlier, Miller said Blinken discussed efforts to prevent the Gaza conflict from spreading during a meeting with the European Union’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, who is also currently in AlUla.

Blinken “emphasized the importance of preventing further spread of the conflict,” during talks in Abu Dhabi earlier with United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a US summary of the meeting said.

“This is a conflict that could easily metastasize, causing even more insecurity and even more suffering,” Blinken said on Sunday in Qatar, the previous leg of his whistlestop tour.

The war in Gaza started with Hamas’ unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel, which resulted in about 1,200 deaths, most of them civilians, according to Israel.

Israel has responded with relentless bombardment and a ground invasion that have killed at least 23,084 people, most of them women and children, according to the health ministry in Gaza.