The White House has released a statement giving an overview of National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan’s latest trip to the region.

“Today in Jerusalem, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi, Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, and convened a modified U.S.-Israel Strategic Consultative Group (SCG) meeting to discuss the war in Gaza,” the statement reads.

It adds that the meeting included a discussion of ongoing diplomatic efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and secure the release of Israeli captives. Indirect talks between Israel and Hamas to reach these goals are currently stalled.

Before his arrival in Israel, Sullivan was in Saudi Arabia, where a meeting with “Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia Mohamed bin Salman focused on a comprehensive vision for an integrated Middle East region. Mr. Sullivan briefed Prime Minister Netanyahu and his team on these meetings and the potential that may now be available for Israel, as well as the Palestinian people”.

The US has used normalisation with Saudi Arabia as an incentive for Israel to scale down its war on Gaza and eventually bring it to a close. Saudi officials have said the kingdom is still open to fully normalising diplomatic ties with Israel, but not while it continues its war.