The two leaders stressed the importance of ongoing efforts to secure the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and establish an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative and relevant international resolutions, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Abbas’ visit to Saudi Arabia comes following weeks of tension and violence between Israelis and Palestinians in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. In addition, cross-border fire between Israel and Lebanon have sparked fears of renewed conflict.

The visit of the chairman of the Palestinian Authority coincides with the arrival of a senior Hamas delegation headed by Ismail Haniyeh in Saudi Arabia. The visit is the first by Hamas officials to the Kingdom since 2015.

The Hamas delegation performed Umrah on Tuesday, with videos circulated on social media showing Hamas leaders Haniyeh and Khaled Meshaal performing the Umrah in Mecca.

A Hamas source told Anadolu news agency the group is scheduled to hold talks with Saudi officials to discuss the latest Palestinian developments and Hamas-Saudi relations.

It is yet unclear whether Abbas and Haniyeh will meet during their visit to Saudi Arabia, according to Anadolu.

During Hamas' 2015 visit to Saudi Arabia Meshaal met with King Salman bin Abdulaziz and senior Saudi officials.