Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met on Monday with visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the sidelines of a US-Gulf Cooperation Council meeting in Riyadh.

The ministers reviewed ways to strengthen bilateral relations and joint cooperation in various fields, the Saudi Press Agency said.

They also discussed developments in the Gaza Strip and the city of Rafah, and the importance of an immediate ceasefire, as well as the swift delivery of aid.

The United States has seen "measurable progress" in the humanitarian situation in Gaza over the past few weeks, Blinken said, but urged Israel to do more.
Speaking at the opening of the US-GCC meeting, Blinken said the most effective way to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza was to achieve a ceasefire.

He also said Washington continued efforts to prevent the Gaza war from expanding.

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed the Kingdom's profound concern over the recent military escalation in Al-Fasher City of Sudan’s North Darfur area.

The Ministry reiterated in a statement issued on Sunday the Kingdom's call for all involved parties to abide by the outcomes of the Jeddah talks, which seek to serve the interests of the Sudanese people by hastening an agreement on a ceasefire and resolving the crisis through political dialogue.

Such measures are crucial to safeguarding Sudan’s unity and ensuring the security of its people and resources, said the statement.

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud has said that only a real commitment to a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict can prevent the war in the Gaza Strip from reoccurring.

The Minister participated on Sunday in a session entitled “North to South, East to West: Rebuilding Trust,” at the World Economic Forum's (WEF) special meeting in Riyadh.

He highlighted the catastrophic situation in Gaza according to all humanitarian standards, indicating that the current events represent a complete failure of the international political system in dealing with the crisis.

“If we all agree that the Palestinian state and giving the Palestinians their right, is the solution that gives everybody what they need: security, stability, their rights, then we should all decide we’re going to invest all of our resources in making that happen,” he said.

“Today the crisis has entered its seventh month and we are still in an endless discussion about whether enough trucks are entering Gaza or not. It is unreasonable and completely unacceptable,” said the Foreign Minister.

He noted that most partners in the international community support the two-state solution. “We are not only focusing on resolving the current crisis, but rather we want to solve the broader problem of attaining a real commitment to the two-state solution.”

“That’s the only reasonable and credible solution that guarantees us from not having to come back to this same situation two, three, four years down the line.”

In response to a question about Saudi Arabia's role in the region, Prince Faisal stressed that the Kingdom focuses on spreading peace and security in the region and the world, and contributes to increasing economic growth, enhancing global cooperation, and innovation, in addition to preserving the climate and confronting all the challenges that the region and the world are experiencing.

Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud has met in Riyadh with Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum's (WEF) special meeting.

The two leaders discussed Sunday fraternal relations between the two countries and their growth, and development opportunities in various fields. They also exchanged views on regional and international issues.

Also Sunday, the Crown Prince met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani.
They discussed bilateral relations, ways to develop them, and several issues of common interest.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah chaired in Riyadh on Sunday the meeting of the Ministerial Committee assigned by the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit on Developments in the Gaza Strip.

The meeting discussed the mechanisms of intensifying joint Arab and Islamic work to reach an immediate end to the war on Gaza and ensure the protection of civilians by international humanitarian law.

It stressed the need to continue efforts aimed at international recognition of an independent Palestinian state to achieve the aspirations of the Palestinian people and sustainable and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid to all parts of the enclave.

The meeting discussed working on taking the necessary steps to implement the two-state solution and recognize the State of Palestine according to the June 4, 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

It stressed that the Gaza Strip is an integral part of the occupied Palestinian territories. The gatherers expressed their categorical rejection of any attempts to displace the Palestinian people outside their land and any military operation in the Palestinian city of Rafah.

The ministers stressed the need for the international community to impose effective sanctions on Israel, including stopping the export of weapons to it, in response to its violation of international law and international humanitarian law, and the war crimes it is committing in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

The ministers also underlined the need to activate international legal tools to hold Israel responsible for these crimes. They also called for an end to Israeli settler terrorism.

Moreover, they voiced their concern over the measures taken against peaceful demonstrators in Western countries that are demanding an end to the war in Gaza and condemning the Israeli crimes and violations against the Palestinians.

The meeting was attended by committee members Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and FM Ayman Al Safadi, Egyptian FM Sameh Shoukry, Turkish FM Hakan Fidan, Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Hussein Ibrahim Taha, Secretary-General of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization and Minister of Civil Affairs Hussein Al Sheikh, and Minister of State at Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi.

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi and Secretary-General of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Haitham Al Ghais held on Sunday a meeting to discuss ways to strengthen the energy sector, particularly energy security.

The discussion was prompted by the rapid regional and international developments affecting global energy markets, aiming to boost the stability of global oil market prices.

The meeting took place during the World Economic Forum (WEF) Special Meeting on Global Collaboration, Growth, and Energy for Development in Riyadh.

Various issues were discussed, with a particular emphasis on OPEC's role in supporting the global oil market. The officials also explored ways to bolster cooperation to serve their common interests, while reviewing the latest regional and international developments.

Albudaiwi commended OPEC's valuable efforts and its major and vital role in maintaining the stability and balance of oil markets. He also acknowledged OPEC's readiness to face future challenges in coordination with member states.

Foreign ministers from the six-party Arab Committee emphasized on Saturday during a high-level dialogue in Riyadh the necessity of ending the war on the Gaza Strip and reaching an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire.
The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, chaired the ministerial consultative meeting of the six-party Arab Committee to discuss the developments of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Jordan, Ayman Al-Safadi; Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt, Sameh Shoukry; the Secretary-General of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, Hussein Al-Sheikh; the Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President, Anwar Gargash; and the Minister of State at the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mohammed Al-Khulaifi.
The ministers emphasized the necessity of ending the war on the Gaza Strip and reaching an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire ensuring the protection of civilians in accordance with international humanitarian law.
Recognition of a Palestinian State
They also emphasized the importance of irreversible steps towards implementing the two-state solution and recognizing the State of Palestine within the borders of June 4, 1967, with its capital in East Al-Quds (Jerusalem), in accordance with relevant international resolutions.
They stressed that the Gaza Strip is an integral part of the occupied Palestinian territory and firmly rejected any attempts to displace the Palestinian people from their land or any military operations in the Palestinian city of Rafah.
Additionally, the ministers warned against the ongoing illegal Israeli actions in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, which undermine the two-state solution.
A Number of Meetings in Riyadh
An unnamed source told Asharq Al-Awsat Thursday that several meetings are expected to be held, under Saudi sponsorship, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum that will be held in Riyadh between April 28 and 29.
These will include a meeting of the Arab foreign ministers with the participation of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and another meeting of the Arab ministers with European Union countries.
The foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council will also hold a meeting with their American counterpart next Monday.
Recognition of the Palestinian state is one of the main topics on the agenda of the meetings, added the source.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan revealed on Monday that talks have begun to circulate within the corridors of the European Union toward recognizing the Palestinian state.
Blinken’s Seventh Visit
Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, is visiting the region for the seventh time since the outbreak of the war in Gaza.
He is expected to meet with Arab and regional officials, in addition to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, according to the source.

Funded by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), the ambulance service of Subul Al-Salam Social Association in Miniyeh, in northern Lebanon, carried out 58 emergency missions in the past week, the Saudi Press Agency said on Saturday.
These entailed administering first aid and transporting patients to and from hospitals and providing ambulance services for those injured in traffic accidents in Miniyeh.
The assistance falls within the framework of the relief project that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia implements through its humanitarian arm, KSrelief, to support medical services and ambulance transport in refugee areas and within the host community.

Honduras announced on Saturday it was exempting Saudi citizens from entry visas.

Honduran Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Consular and Immigration Affairs Antonio Garcia made the announcement on a post on the X social media platform.

The move was announced shortly after a meeting between Saudi Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji and his Honduran counterpart Enrique Reyna in Tegucigalpa.

The officials agreed during their meeting on bolstering bilateral ties and tourism between their countries.

Saudi Arabia’s aviation authority announced on Friday that direct flights will start from Dammam to Najaf, Iraq, from June 1, strengthening the bond between the two countries.

This move is part of Saudi Arabia’s plan to increase its aviation capacity, aiming to serve more than 330 million passengers annually, with over 250 destinations worldwide.

Najaf will be the third destination in Iraq for Saudi flights, alongside Baghdad and Erbil, supporting easier travel between the two nations and boosting aviation cooperation.

Observers emphasize the significant role of the Saudi-Iraqi Coordination Council in elevating bilateral relations to a strategic level, driven by a shared commitment to common goals and the determination of the leaders of both countries.

This initiative underscores Saudi Arabia’s dedication to facilitating travel for its citizens to Iraq and promoting interaction with all Iraqi communities, fostering closer ties between the two nations.