National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan was holding meetings in Riyadh Thursday and Friday with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) about the Israel-Hamas war and humanitarian aid to Gaza.

According to a statement from the White House, the pair “discussed a number of bilateral and regional matters, including ongoing efforts to create new conditions for an enduring and sustainable peace between Israelis and Palestinians. They also discussed the humanitarian response in Gaza, including efforts to increase the flow of critical aid.”

The meeting follows one between MBS and President Biden in Octobe, in a shared pursuit of a diplomatic solution to the war, including preventing it from spreading further into other parts of the Middle East.

While in the region, Sullivan also visited Israel, where he met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid plans to discuss with officials the need for more surgical and precise strikes against Hamas targets in Gaza, according to National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby.

Earlier this week, Biden told donors in Washington that Israel is losing support for its war against Hamas and Netanyahu must change his government.

Though Biden has mostly expressed support for Netanyahu in his military efforts to eradicate Hamas, in phone calls the U.S. President has encouraged the Israeli Prime Minister to try harder to avoid civilian casualties. 

More than 1,100 Israelis have been killed in the recent fighting, most during Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attack on Israel. Since the war began more than two months ago, roughly 18,000 Palestinians have been killed, as well. ( lINK: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2023/12/11/israel-hamas-war-live-who-decries-catastrophic-situation-in-gaza )

PHOTO: Gaza destruction amid Israel-Hamas war

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