Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman condemned Israel’s military actions in Gaza, describing them as “genocide” during a high-level summit of Muslim and Arab leaders. His statement marked one of the strongest criticisms from a Saudi official since the conflict began. The Crown Prince also rebuked Israeli strikes in Lebanon and warned against any aggression toward Iran, underscoring a new phase of cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Iran, long-standing regional rivals.
Additionally, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan Al-Saud called it a “failure of the international community” that the Gaza conflict had not yet been halted, attributing Gaza’s widespread starvation to Israeli actions.
The war began on October 7, 2023, after Hamas fighters entered southern Israel, killing over 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Israel’s response, aimed at dismantling Hamas, has led to more than 43,400 deaths in Gaza, according to the Hamas-controlled health ministry. The United Nations reported that around 70% of verified casualties in Gaza have been women and children.
The summit’s participants criticized Israeli “continuous attacks” on UN staff and facilities in Gaza. Following the Knesset’s recent decision to bar UNRWA, the UN Palestinian refugee agency, from operating in Israel and East Jerusalem, leaders expressed concerns that this move might obstruct vital aid to Gaza. In the backdrop of this summit, regional leaders are closely watching the U.S., especially former President Trump’s potential return, hoping his influence might encourage stability in the Middle East.
Al Jazeera, BBC News, Reuters, Associated Press (AP), The Guardian, Arab News, CNN
