Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has strongly condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza, labeling them as “genocide” in some of the most direct criticism from a Saudi leader since the war began.
Addressing a summit of Muslim and Arab leaders, the Crown Prince also denounced Israeli attacks on Lebanon and Iran. Israel has firmly rejected claims that its actions in Gaza constitute genocide.
In a display of strengthening relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, Prince Mohammed further cautioned Israel against any attacks on Iranian territory.
The Crown Prince, along with other leaders present, also called for Israel’s complete withdrawal from the West Bank and Gaza.
Additionally, Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister criticized the “international community’s failure” to end the conflict in Gaza, accusing Israel of causing severe hardship and starvation in the region.
Prince Faisal Bin Farhan Al-Saud said: “Where the international community primarily has failed is ending the immediate conflict and putting an end to Israel’s aggression.”
The conflict in Gaza was ignited by Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023, when hundreds of armed fighters infiltrated southern Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken.
In response, Israel launched a military campaign aimed at dismantling Hamas, during which, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, over 43,400 people have been killed in the region.
A UN Human Rights Office report highlighted that nearly 70% of verified casualties in Gaza over a six-month period were women and children.
Summit leaders also condemned what they described as Israel’s “ongoing attacks” on UN personnel and facilities in Gaza.
Last month, the Knesset passed a bill to ban Unrwa, the UN Palestinian refugee agency, from operating in Israel and occupied East Jerusalem, accusing the organisation of colluding with Hamas.
Several countries, including the US and the UK, have expressed serious concern about the move limiting the agency’s ability to transfer aid to Gaza.
Against the backdrop of a widely attended summit is the prospect of Donald Trump’s potential return to the White House.
Gulf leaders, recognizing his strong ties with Israel, also value their relationship with him and hope he will leverage his influence and affinity for deal-making to help resolve regional conflicts.
In Saudi Arabia, Trump is viewed more favorably than Joe Biden, though his Middle East record is mixed.
While he pleased Israel, he provoked anger in the Muslim world by recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and endorsing the annexation of the Golan Heights. Nonetheless, he brokered the Abraham Accords in 2020, leading to the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco establishing full diplomatic relations with Israel, with Sudan agreeing to follow suit.
One editorial in a leading Saudi newspaper today is titled: “A new era of hope. Trump’s return and the promise of stability.”