The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and the future of the Gaza Strip after the war is over were the topics of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to Saudi Arabia on Monday.
Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with the new top U.S. diplomat.
Their discussions followed U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal to relocate 2.3 million Palestinians from Gaza to neighboring countries, with the United States redeveloping and assuming ownership of the small region along the Mediterranean Sea. Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries are against this plan.
On February 17, 2025, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, the foreign minister of Saudi Arabia, meets with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Riyadh.
On February 17, 2025, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, the foreign minister of Saudi Arabia, meets with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Riyadh.
Following their meeting, Rubio and the crown prince “understood the importance of an arrangement for Gaza that contributes to regional security,” according to State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce. No mention of the Trump proposal was made by her.
Bruce stated that the two officials “reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that Hamas releases all hostages, including American citizens, and to implementing the ceasefire in Gaza.”
