US’ Blinken arrives in Saudi Arabia amid regional tour to seek Gaza cease-fire

By Ibrahim al-Khazen

RIYADH (AA) – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday at the first stop in his latest regional tour amid efforts to seek a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip.

The tour marks Blinken's fifth trip to the Middle East region since Israel launched a deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip following a Hamas attack on Oct. 7.

He is expected to hold talks with Saudi officials on the situation in the Gaza Strip, the Saudi Al-Arabiya channel reported.

Blinken will also visit Egypt, Qatar, Israel, and the West Bank as part of the tour.

According to the US Department of State, the chief diplomat will continue diplomatic efforts to reach an agreement that secures the release of all remaining Israeli hostages and a humanitarian pause to allow for sustained, increased delivery of humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza.

At least 27,478 Palestinians have been killed and 66,835 others injured in Israel’s deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, according to local health authorities. Nearly 1,200 Israelis are believed to have been killed in the Hamas attack, while more than 130 Israelis remained in Hamas captivity.

The Israeli offensive has left 85% of Gaza’s population internally displaced amid acute shortages of food, clean water and medicine, while 60% of the enclave’s infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.