US state secretary, Saudi FM discuss Gaza ceasefire efforts

US Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel has said that Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed the need to reach ceasefire agreements in the Gaza Strip in a telephone conversation with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.

“Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke today [August 18] with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud. The Secretary discussed the vital, ongoing work to prevent regional escalation and finalize a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas,” Patel said, Caliber.Az reports, citing the Department’s website.

According to the deputy spokesperson, Blinken thanked the foreign minister for Saudi Arabia’s work to facilitate the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

“The Secretary underscored our shared concerns about Houthi actions, including its seizure earlier this month of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Sana’a.

The Secretary thanked the Foreign Minister for Saudi Arabia’s role as co-host of talks in Switzerland aimed at implementing the Jeddah Declaration and achieving a cessation of hostilities in Sudan — and underscored the need for the Sudanese Armed Forces to join the Rapid Support Forces in the negotiations,” Patel noted.