The Wall Street Journal quoted Saudi and Israeli officials as saying that gradual steps towards normalization could be taken before the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is resolved.

The newspaper said Saudi Arabia and Israel were looking to deepen economic relations and expand confidential and serious talks to build trade relations and create new security arrangements.

It also quoted a Saudi official as saying: "If Hamas has established a relationship with Iran to protect itself, why don't we have a relationship with Israel against Iran to protect ourselves?"

With the help of President Joe Biden's administration, Saudi Arabia and the entity were trying to reach an agreement that could give commercial aircraft expanded rights to fly from the occupied Palestinian territories over Saudi Arabia and pave the way for the Kingdom to take full control of two strategic islands in the Red Sea.