Saudi Arabia's Defense Minister to travel to US for Gaza talks
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The sources state that Saudi Defense Minister Khaled bin Salman will convene with White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, alongside several senators.
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Saudi Arabia's then Vice Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman waits for a meeting with US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and others at the Pentagon, August 29, 2019, in Washington, DC. (AFP)
According to Axios citing three sources, Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman (KBS) is due to visit the US on Monday to conduct discussions with the Biden administration.
The visit is due to take place as "Israel" is failing in attempts at a ground invasion in Gaza, which Saudi Arabia condemned, and amid concerns by both the US and the Kingdom that the war could spill over into a regional war.
KBS is the brother of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) and the former ambassador to the US, and is the highest-ranking Saudi official to visit the US since President Joe Biden took office.
The sources state that he will convene with White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, alongside several senators.
Time to deploy US forces in place
This comes as the White House confirmed that Biden spoke to MBS about military efforts to keep regional state and non-state actors from joining the war, stressing that the US "fully supports the defense of US partners facing terrorist threats, whether from state or non-state actors".
According to ABC, a top United States official revealed that the Biden administration requested "Israel" to give time to the US to deploy forces in place prior to any ground invasion in Gaza. The US has also asked that "Israel" improve its handling of the captive and humanitarian situation in Gaza, where "Israel" has committed countless massacres since the start of its aggression on the Strip.
According to the source, the US also reminded the Israelis that it is still not sure they have a sound strategy for what they intend to accomplish in Gaza.
Greater 'integration for Israel'
The Saudi Foreign Ministry released a statement on Saturday denouncing the attempted ground invasion of Gaza saying: "Any ground operation by Israel would threaten the lives of Palestinian civilians and result in inhumane dangers."
This week, Biden claimed that Hamas attacked "Israel" to allegedly disrupt the Saudi normalization of ties with the Occupation, citing his "instinct".
"We need to work toward greater integration [in the region] for Israel — while insisting that the aspirations of the Palestinian people will be part of this future as well," Biden said.
Per the White House, MBS and Biden this week "affirmed the importance of working towards a sustainable peace between Israelis and Palestinians as soon as the crisis subsides".
The White House and State Department engaged in a series of calls with regional countries such as Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, seeking assistance in de-escalating the crisis. The Biden administration's diplomatic efforts on Saturday were primarily aimed at preventing the war from spilling over to other areas in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, the Saudi royal court claimed that MBS stressed to Biden the need to "restore the peace track to ensure that the Palestinian people obtain their legitimate rights and in order to achieve fair and comprehensive peace."
