RIYADH: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Riyadh on Monday, on the first stop of his fifth regional tour since the beginning of the Israel-Gaza war. He is expected to meet with senior Saudi officials and discuss the situation in Gaza. Blinken is later expected to visit Israel, Egypt and Qatar. Ahead of the trip he stressed the need for “urgently addressing humanitarian needs in Gaza,” after aid groups have repeatedly sounded the alarm over the devastating impact nearly four months of war have had on the besieged territory. The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said at least 27,478 people have been killed in the territory in nearly four months of war between Palestinian militants and Israel. A ministry statement said 66,835 people have been wounded since fighting erupted on Oct. 7.