RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received phone calls from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Stephane Sejourne on Thursday.

During the call with Blinken, developments in the Gaza Strip and efforts made to deal with the security and humanitarian repercussions of the conflict there were discussed.

Blinken left the Middle East on Thursday after wrapping up a four-nation trip to the region.

He returned after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the war would continue until Israel is completely victorious and appeared to reject outright a response from Hamas to a proposed ceasefire plan.

During the call with Sejourne, the two officials spoke about regional and international developments including the situation in the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, Prince Faisal received a written message from UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed relating to the strong and close relations between the two countries and ways to support and enhance them.
The message was received by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Al-Khereiji during a meeting with UAE Ambassador to the Kingdom Sheikh Nahyan bin Saif in Riyadh.
During the reception, they reviewed ways to enhance relations and discussed topics of common interest.