In a recent phone call, U.S. President Joe Biden and Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed measures to prevent the Israel-Hamas conflict from further escalating, as confirmed by the White House on Tuesday.

The two leaders agreed to actively pursue broader diplomatic efforts in order to maintain stability across the region and prevent the conflict from expanding. The White House emphasized that Biden and the Saudi crown prince will continue to closely coordinate their efforts.

During the conversation, both leaders expressed their satisfaction regarding the delivery of humanitarian aid from Egypt into Gaza. However, they also acknowledged the need for sustained access to essential resources such as food, water, and medical assistance for civilians. The White House emphasized that additional humanitarian aid is required to address this pressing issue.

President Biden and Crown Prince Mohammed also voiced their support for ongoing initiatives aimed at securing the release of hostages currently held by Hamas. They emphatically called for the immediate release of these individuals.

Furthermore, the two leaders highlighted the importance of working towards "sustainable peace" between Israelis and Palestinians once the current crisis subsides. The White House underlined that this effort will build upon existing work that has been underway between Saudi Arabia and the United States in recent months.

Biden and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken previously suggested that Hamas' assault on Israel on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of over 1,400 people, was intended to disrupt the potential normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia, a significant player in the Middle East and home to Islam's two holiest shrines, had supported its Gulf neighbors' normalization of relations with Israel in 2020. The nation has expressed concerns that a wider conflict would impact its national security and has actively advocated for a ceasefire in Gaza as well as the lifting of the blockade on the strip.

While the United States has called for a "humanitarian pause" to allow for aid deliveries, it has not yet supported a full ceasefire. The White House's National Security Council spokesperson, John Kirby, stated that a ceasefire at this stage would primarily benefit Hamas.

Since October 7, Israel's intense airstrikes on Gaza, which is governed by Hamas, have reportedly resulted in the deaths of over 5,700 Palestinians. Shockingly, this figure includes more than 2,300 children, according to Gaza officials.

Gaza, a 45-kilometer (25-mile) long strip of land inhabited by 2.3 million people, has been under the political rule of Hamas since 2007. However, it faces a blockade imposed by Israel, severely impacting the strip's inhabitants.

As international efforts intensify to find a resolution to the Israel-Hamas conflict, President Biden and Crown Prince Mohammed's commitment to preventing escalation and pursuing sustainable peace is crucial.