Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday condemned Israel’s actions against Palestinians during a summit of Islamic leaders in Riyadh.
He affirmed Saudi Arabia’s stance as a “refusal of the collective genocide committed by Israel against the brotherly Palestinian people” and reiterated the kingdom’s support for Palestinian rights, as reported by BBC News.
The summit was attended by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, along with leaders from Jordan, Egypt, and Lebanon. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad were also present.
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, stated that “the international community primarily has failed in ending the immediate conflict and putting an end to Israel’s aggression.”
The Saudi Crown Prince also cautioned Israel against taking military action in Iran, marking a shift in Saudi Arabia’s stance. This development suggests a closer alignment between Saudi Arabia and Iran, particularly after the two countries restored diplomatic relations last year, ending years of tension.
The summit aimed to pressure Israel to withdraw from Palestinian territories and to garner regional support for Palestinian sovereignty. Saudi officials said the summit’s goal was to “unify positions” to achieve lasting peace.
In Saudi Arabia, Donald Trump is viewed more favorably than Joe Biden, though his record in the Middle East is mixed. Amid the high-profile summit, discussions about Trump’s potential return to the White House have gained attention.
The conflict in Gaza escalated following Hamas’s attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, in which hundreds of gunmen infiltrated the region, killing around 1,200 people and taking hundreds hostage. In response, Israel launched a military campaign aimed at dismantling Hamas. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, more than 43,400 people have been killed in Gaza.
