TLDR:
• Saudi Crown Prince condemns Israeli actions
• Support for Palestinian Authority highlighted
• Summit calls for two-state solution
RIYADH (The Thursday Times) — Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman condemned Israel’s military actions in Gaza and Lebanon at an extraordinary Arab and Islamic summit held in Riyadh. Addressing regional leaders, he denounced the humanitarian blockade in Gaza and highlighted Saudi Arabia’s ongoing support for the Palestinian Authority, calling the attacks in Gaza “genocide.”
The Crown Prince’s opening remarks underlined Saudi Arabia’s firm stance against the Israeli military campaign, calling for an immediate end to violence in both Gaza and Lebanon. He emphasised the Kingdom’s disapproval of Israel’s obstruction of international aid in Gaza, particularly hindrances faced by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and other humanitarian organisations.
Saudi commitment to Palestinian sovereignty
Reiterating Saudi Arabia’s position, the Crown Prince expressed the Kingdom’s full support for the Palestinian Authority, urging the international community to uphold Palestine’s right to autonomy. He underscored the need for full UN membership for Palestine and reaffirmed support for a two-state solution that recognises East Jerusalem as the capital of an independent Palestinian state. This initiative aligns with Saudi Arabia’s “Growing. Together” theme, which has garnered backing from nations such as Spain and Ireland, reinforcing global calls for a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders.
Regional leaders united in condemnation
The summit brought together numerous Arab and Islamic leaders, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who condemned Israel’s recent actions as an effort to annex Palestinian territories. Erdogan urged international support for South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice over violations in Gaza, citing a high civilian death toll.
Calls for international accountability
At the summit, Hissein Brahim Taha, secretary-general of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, called for implementation of a UN resolution demanding a ceasefire and unrestricted humanitarian aid across Gaza. Echoing Saudi Arabia’s call for restraint, the Arab League’s secretary-general criticised Israel’s actions as an assault on Palestinian society, destroying hope for peaceful coexistence. Leaders at the summit, including officials from Egypt, Iraq, and Jordan, underscored a collective desire for a unified approach to advocate for Palestinian rights and oppose actions threatening regional stability.
