RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman on Sunday met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Riyadh to discuss the ongoing military escalation in Gaza and its surrounding areas.
During the meeting, the Crown Prince reiterated Saudi Arabia’s rejection of targeting civilians in any way or the destruction of civilian infrastructure and vital utility services that affect the daily lives of innocent Palestinians. He reaffirmed the urgent need to find ways to stop the military operations that claimed the lives of innocent Palestinian people.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on his meeting with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman: "Very productive" pic.twitter.com/UrqGQPRiOv
— S p r i n t e r F a c t o r y (@Sprinterfactory) October 15, 2023
The Crown Prince stressed the Kingdom’s effort to intensify contacts to calm the escalating situation, stop the ongoing escalation, and respect international humanitarian law. He maintained that Saudi Arabia calls for lifting the blockade on Gaza.
Saudi Crown Prince Stresses Palestinians Legitimate Rights
The Crown Prince also stressed the need to find a peace path to ensure that the Palestinian people get their legitimate rights and achieve just and lasting peace.
Saudi Ambassador to the United States Princess Reema bint Bandar, Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan, US State Department Counselor Derek Chollet, US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Michael Ratney, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara A. Leaf, and Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy at the US Department of State Tom Sullivan attended the meeting between Saudi Crown Prince and US Secretary of State.
READ ALSO: Gaza’s Civilians Face Humanitarian Crisis Amid Israeli Military Buildup
After the meeting, Antony Blinken said that his meeting with the Saudi Crown Prince was very productive. On Saturday, the US Secretary of State met with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan after his arrival in Riyadh.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and I met today in Riyadh and discussed the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel. pic.twitter.com/HjoGMmTzqi
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) October 15, 2023
During the meeting, Prince Faisal affirmed the Kingdom’s strong rejection of calls for the forced displacement of the innocent Palestinian people from Gaza. Prince Faisal also stressed Saudi Arabia’s demand for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and its surrounding areas and to lift the Israeli siege on the Gaza Strip in line with international law.
