Saudi Arabia has told the U.S. its position stands that there will be no diplomatic relations with Israel unless an independent Palestinian state is recognised on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem, and Israeli "aggression" on the Gaza Strip stops, the Saudi foreign ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby said that the Biden administration has received positive feedback that Saudi Arabia and Israel are willing to continue to have normalization discussions.

The kingdom issued the statement to affirm its steadfast position to Washington on the Palestinian issue in the light of the comments attributed to Kirby, the ministry said.

The idea of Israel and Saudi Arabia formally cementing ties has been under discussion since the Saudis gave their quiet assent to Gulf neighbours United Arab Emirates and Bahrain establishing ties with Israel in 2020.

Saudi Arabia put U.S.-backed plans to normalise ties with Israel on ice, sources familiar with Riyadh's thinking told Reuters in Oct, 2023, as the war between Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israeli forces escalated.

Israel began its military offensive in Gaza after militants from Hamas-ruled Gaza killed 1,200 people and took 253 hostages in southern Israel on Oct. 7.

Secretary of State arrives in Saudi Arabia to push for cease-fire deal this week

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, second from left, is welcomed upon his arrival at King Khalid International Airport, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Monday, Feb. 5, 2024. Partially seen third from left is Barbara Leaf, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, and Alison Dilworth, Deputy Chief of Mission, third from right.

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken arrives in Saudi Arabia Monday to push for more conversations around a cease-fire deal in Gaza.

During his Middle Eastern trip, he will stop in Egypt, Qatar, Israel and the West Bank in addition to his visit to Saudi Arabia. This is his fifth visit to the region since Oct. 7, per The Associated Press.

Blinken’s visit comes after the U.S. carried out additional “strikes against Houthi missiles in Yemen on Sunday,” BBC reported.

What is Antony Blinken hoping to accomplish in Middle East visit?

The top American diplomat is hoping to “reach an agreement that secures the release of all remaining hostages and includes a humanitarian pause that will allow for sustained, increased delivery of humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza,” according to the State Department.

He will also likely discuss what a post-war world would like in the region. The U.S. has asked Israel if it would consider a two-state solution with Palestine, but Israel has vehemently denied the idea until “Israel crushes Hamas’ military and governing abilities,” The Hill reported.

According to The Hill, “Saudi officials say the kingdom is still interested in normalizing relations with Israel in a potentially landmark deal, but only if there is a credible plan to create a Palestinian state.”

What we know about a cease-fire proposal for Israel-Palestine

Hamas is currently “considering a cease-fire proposal, but signaled that there were still significant gaps to bridge,” The New York Times reported. The framework of the deal was deliberated in Paris, per NBC News.

More than 27,000 people have been killed in Gaza since Oct. 7, and more than 64,000 people have been injured in the conflict. Around 85% of the Palestinian population has been displaced.