Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday during talks in Manama about the need for a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, Bahrain News Agency reported.
Al Khalifa welcomed Blinken to the capital’s Safriya Palace as part of his tour of several countries in the region.
They considered ways to develop and strengthen bilateral relations, and measures to strengthen the framework for cooperation and joint action across various sectors.
The two leaders also discussed “the situation in the Middle East region, including the Gaza Strip, as well as regional and global developments,” Bahrain News Agency said.
“We must ensure humanitarian aid reaches residents of the Gaza Strip in accordance with international humanitarian law and prevent forced displacement, as well as reaching a cease-fire, protecting civilians and releasing hostages and detainees,” the king stressed. did. He said.
The agency said Blinken affirmed the U.S.’s “support for taking concrete steps towards the establishment of a Palestinian state and emphasized that it rejects the forced removal of Palestinians, whether in Gaza or the West Bank.” I did.”
CNN earlier reported that Blinken would make a “surprise” visit to Manama, which was not part of his original trip to the Middle East.
Blinken arrived in Israel on Monday for his fourth visit since the start of the war against Gaza, as part of a regional tour that began in Turkey and Greece. Also includes transit points to Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Brinked is scheduled to visit Egypt later Wednesday.