Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman is expected to meet with top US government officials on Monday in Washington DC, a Saudi official told Al Arabiya English on Sunday.
He is expected to meet top Biden administration officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.
Prince Khaled will also likely meet National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and White House’s Middle East policy chief, Brett McGurk.
His visit takes place amid increased violence and tensions in the Gaza Strip due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. Israel said Saturday its war on Hamas had “entered a new phase” with its massive bombardment of the besieged enclave.
In a statement on Saturday, Saudi Arabia condemned the ground operations by Israel’s military, saying they may jeopardize the lives of Palestinian civilians.
The death toll in the Hamas-controlled strip has exceeded 8,000, according to the Ministry of Health’s latest figures.
Saudi Arabia on Palestinian issue
Saudi Arabia has repeatedly rejected the violence on Palestinians and called for de-escalation efforts.
On Wednesday, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman urged for immediate action to be taken for a Gaza ceasefire in a call with US President Joe Biden.
The Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, on several occasions, also called for a ceasefire and for lifting the siege on Gaza.
Speaking after a United Nations Security Council Ministerial earlier this week, Prince Faisal demanded an immediate ceasefire in the war-torn enclave, adding that there will not be peace in the region without a just solution to the Palestinian issue.