The Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States has circulated a draft United Nations Security Council resolution calling for an "immediate ceasefire linked to the release of hostages" in the Gaza Strip.

Blinken noted that a resolution has been put forward before the United Nations Security Council for a call for an immediate ceasefire, as he hoped that countries would support the resolution.

The Secretary of State made this known during a visit to Saudi Arabia to discuss the war between Israel and Hamas, stressing that the resolution would send a strong signal.

Blinken met Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and held talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman after landing in the kingdom on the first leg of a regional tour that would include Egypt on Thursday and then Israel.

Israel's main backer, the United States, has previously used its UN Security Council veto to block the world body from calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Palestinian territory.

Since blocking an Algerian draft resolution calling for an "immediate humanitarian ceasefire" in Gaza at the end of February, US officials have been negotiating an alternative text focusing on support for diplomatic efforts on the ground for a six-week truce in exchange for the release of hostages.

According to diplomatic sources, this text had little chance of gaining the Council's approval and a new version was circulated to Security Council members.