WASHINGTON, December 9. /TASS/. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed efforts that can be taken to prevent the Palestinian-Israeli conflict from spreading, as well as humanitarian aid shipments to the Gaza Strip during the meetings with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Washington.

During the meeting with the Saudi minister, Blinken "affirmed the urgency of addressing humanitarian needs in Gaza, preventing further spread of the conflict, and reinforcing regional stability and security." He condemned that recent Houthi rebel attacks on commercial vessels operating in international waters in the southern Red Sea and emphasized that all partners should cooperate to uphold maritime security."

The top diplomats of the US and Turkey discussed "the Israel-Hamas conflict, focusing on efforts to ensure the conflict does not spread elsewhere in the region, the necessity of freeing remaining hostages, and the provision of humanitarian aid. Blinken also "emphasized the importance of ratifying Sweden’s NATO accession without delay".