Saudi Crown Prince Snubs US Diplomat Antony Blinken, Makes Him Wait For Hours

In what could be considered an astonishing snub to the US, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman made US Secretary of State Antony Blinken wait for hours for a meeting, The Washington Post reported.

Blinken undertook his most extensive journey to the Middle East, working with Arab allies to prevent the escalation of the conflict and facilitate the safe release of hostages taken by Hamas militants.

However, the US diplomat got a cold reception in Riyadh as the views of the two countries differ on the ongoing conflict.

Blinken had anticipated a meeting with Mohamed bin Salman in the evening upon his arrival on Saturday. However, the crown prince eventually appeared the following morning, as per the report.

During the meeting, the Saudi's de facto leader called for Israel to halt military operations "that claimed the lives of innocent people". He also called for the de-escalation of the war.

The Saudi stance differs from that of the Biden administration. While the US president has supported Israel's efforts to eradicate Hamas following the terror attacks, he has emphasized the importance of safeguarding civilian lives.

"The Secretary highlighted the United States' unwavering focus on halting terrorist attacks by Hamas, securing the release of all hostages, and preventing the conflict from spreading," the State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement after the meeting.

"The two affirmed their shared commitment to protecting civilians and to advancing stability across the Middle East and beyond," Miller added.

Israel has pledged to annihilate the militant organization Hamas in response to an assault perpetrated by its fighters in Israeli towns, 10 days ago. During this attack, Hamas militants targeted men, women, and children, and took hostages, marking the most severe assault on civilians in the country's history.