US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken will travel to Saudi Arabia on Monday and Tuesday primarily to “discuss ongoing efforts for a ceasefire in Gaza that will allow for the release of the hostages,” the State Department announced today. Department.

Anthony Blinken, who will depart on Sunday, will also highlight tthe importance of preventing a spillover” in the area of ​​Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip following deadly attacks by Hamas on its territory on Oct. 7, according to a statement from State Department spokesman Matthew Miller.

He will discuss the recent increase in humanitarian aid delivered to Gaza and highlight the importance of ensuring that this increase is sustained.

The head of US diplomacy also intends to “discuss ways to achieve lasting peace and security in the region, including a path towards a independent Palestinian state with security guarantees for Israel”.

The US secretary of state will also attend a meeting of ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council, an organization that includes six countries on the Arabian Peninsula, including Qatar, which plays a mediating role between Israel and Hamas.

Blinken will also attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Riyadh on Sunday and Monday, which is dedicated to climate change adaptation and the energy transition.

WEF President Borg Brende said on Saturday that Blinken would travel to Saudi Arabia “immediately after his visits to China and before going to Israel”.

The WEF is also expected to welcome Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and the foreign ministers of France, Germany, Britain, as well as the prime ministers of Qatar, Jordan, Egypt and Iraq.

This will be Blinken’s fifth visit to Saudi Arabia since October 7, but the first since mutual attacks between Israel and Iran this month. Before October 7, the kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Israel were considering the possibility of normalizing their relations. Washington hopes to revive that prospect to encourage Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to show restraint.