Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday reiterated Saudi Arabia’s condemnation of Israeli actions in Gaza and violations of Lebanon’s sovereignty.
Speaking at an emergency Arab and Islamic summit in Riyadh, he denounced Israel’s obstruction of humanitarian efforts in Gaza and stressed the importance of the Palestinian Authority’s role.
“The Kingdom condemns the obstruction of UNRWA’s relief efforts in Palestinian territories and the blocking of aid by humanitarian organizations supporting Palestinians,” said the crown prince.
Israel recently notified the UN of its decision to sever ties with UNRWA, following a vote by Israeli officials on Oct. 28.
The crown prince called on the international community to “immediately halt Israeli actions against our Palestinian and Lebanese brothers,” describing Israel’s campaign in Gaza as “genocide.”
“We condemn Israeli military operations against Lebanon, rejecting any actions that compromise Lebanon’s stability and territorial integrity,” he added. “Israel’s continued aggression against innocent civilians, violations at Al-Aqsa Mosque, and undermining of the Palestinian Authority will hinder efforts to ensure Palestinian rights and regional peace.”
He also condemned Israeli hostilities against Iran, urging the international community to pressure Israel to respect “the sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
Emphasizing Saudi support for the Palestinian cause, he reaffirmed the need for Palestine’s full UN membership and a sovereign Palestinian state. “We launched a global initiative to support the two-state solution,” he said, urging peace-loving nations to back this goal through the UN.
The crown prince commended recent joint efforts by summit nations, which have encouraged nine additional countries—including Spain, Ireland, and Norway—to recognize the State of Palestine. He affirmed the importance of pursuing a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also addressed the summit, claiming that Israel aims to establish settlements in Gaza and annex the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Erdogan cited significant Palestinian casualties, stressing the need for coordinated international action to prevent genocide in Palestine.
He called on countries to support South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
Organization of Islamic Cooperation Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha also urged full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2735, which calls for a ceasefire, sustained humanitarian aid to Gaza, Israeli withdrawal, and enabling the Palestinian government to fulfill its responsibilities.
I am an experienced writer, analyst, and author. My exposure in English journalism spans more than 28 years. In the past, I have been working with daily The Muslim (Lahore Bureau), daily Business Recorder (Lahore/Islamabad Bureaus), Daily Times, Islamabad, daily The Nation (Lahore and Karachi). With daily The Nation, I have served as Resident Editor, Karachi. Since 2009, I have been working as a Freelance Writer/Editor for American organizations.
