Biden, Saudi crown prince discuss efforts to contain Israeli-Hamas conflict

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed efforts to prevent the conflict between Hamas and Israel from escalating during a phone call Tuesday, the White House said in a statement.

The two spoke about “ongoing diplomatic and military efforts to deter state and non-state actors from widening the conflict” and agreed to pursue “broader diplomatic efforts to maintain stability across the region and prevent the conflict from expanding,” according to the White House.

The leaders applauded the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza that started over the weekend and called on Hamas to immediately release hostages the group — which has been designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. and European Union — has been holding since its deadly Oct. 7 assault on Israel, the White House said.

The Hamas attack killed more than 1,400 people and saw more than 200 taken hostage. Israel responded with airstrikes on Gaza, which is controlled by Hamas, and has threatened a ground invasion to eradicate the militant group. The U.S. and other nations are pushing Israel to hold off on a ground war in hopes of securing the release of more hostages.

Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries have criticized Israel’s bombardment of Gaza and warned it against carrying out a ground assault, saying it would worsen the humanitarian crisis there.

Biden earlier Tuesday, responding to a reporter’s question, said aid was not flowing into Gaza “fast enough.”

A ground war is likely to further inflame public sentiment across the Middle East and put additional pressure on governments in the region that have normalized ties with Israel.

Biden has accused Hamas of carrying out its attack in part to stymie efforts by Israel to normalize relations with Saudi Arabia. Under Biden, the U.S. and Saudis were working on a framework for the kingdom to recognize Israel in exchange for security guarantees.

Israel has signed diplomatic deals with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan since 2020, but normalization with Saudi Arabia, the biggest economy in the Middle East, would be a coup for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his country. Those efforts are in limbo amid the Israel-Hamas war.

Biden and the crown prince “affirmed the importance of working toward a sustainable peace between Israelis and Palestinians as soon as the crisis subsides, building on the work that was already underway between Saudi Arabia and the United States over recent months,” the White House said in its readout of the call.