President Trump has said he wants to empty the war-wrecked Gaza Strip of its Palestinian residents and create a “Riviera of the Middle East.” But few believe that is compatible with his aim of regional peace anchored by ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

The de facto leader of Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, met Monday with three senior members of the Trump administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who were visiting the kingdom to discuss the future of both the Gaza Strip and Ukraine.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was in Saudi Arabia on Monday to discuss the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and the fate of the Gaza Strip if the war is ended. The new top U.S. diplomat met with both Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan.

Arab leaders are meeting in Saudi Arabia to discuss countering US President Donald Trump’s plan for United States control of the besieged and bombarded Gaza Strip and the expulsion of its people, diplomatic and government sources have said.

President Trump has said he wants to empty the war-wrecked Gaza Strip of its Palestinian residents and create a "Riviera of the Middle East." But few believe that is compatible with his aim of regional peace anchored by ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

Marco Rubio’s visit to Riyadh, his first as secretary of state, came amid uncertainty about the future of Gaza and Ukraine and criticism of unilateral U.S. moves over the wars in both places.

Draft ideas will be discussed at a meeting in Riyadh this month. Proposals may involve a Gulf-led reconstruction fund and a deal to sideline Hamas.

A U.S. official says Rubio is leading a delegation to Saudi Arabia for direct talks with Russian officials in the coming days to seek an end to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

Trump did give himself some wiggle room by challenging Arab states to come up with their own plan for postwar Gaza. On Feb. 27, Egypt will host an Arab summit, and talks have been taking place on what to offer in place of Trump’s call for the enclave’s population to be moved out.

Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov visited Saudi Arabia on Sunday ahead talks between Russia and the United States in the Kingdom scheduled for next week.

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