Blinken speaks with Middle Eastern leaders about Israel, regional issues

Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives before President Joe Biden at a news conference after his meeting with China's President President Xi Jinping at the Filoli Estate in Woodside, Calif., last week. (Doug Mills/The New York Times via AP, Pool)

Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday spoke with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and with the prime minister of Qatar about the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas as well as other issues pertaining to the region.

In a conversation with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Blinken affirmed the urgency of addressing humanitarian needs in the Gaza Strip and preventing further spread of the conflict, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said.

Blinken also praised efforts by Saudi Arabia to bring peace to the conflict in neighboring Yemen.

Speaking to UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Blinken stressed the importance of ending the conflict in Sudan.

In discussions with Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Blinken said the United States was committed to advancing a two-state solution for Israel and Palestinians.

He also praised Qatar’s “critical efforts to help broker the deal to secure the release of at least fifty hostages - including Americans – taken by the terrorist group Hamas during its brutal assault against Israel.”