Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has delivered his strongest criticism yet of Israel’s offensive in Gaza, calling it a “genocide”. Speaking at a summit of Muslim and Arab leaders, Prince Salman also condemned Israeli strikes on Lebanon and Iran, and called for a complete Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank and Gaza.
According to the BBC, Salman warned Israel against escalating its attacks on Iranian territory. The Saudi leader’s remarks have been among the harshest public statements from Saudi Arabia regarding the ongoing conflict.
While Israel has denied allegations of genocide, stating that its military actions target the terror group Hamas, Salman’s comments reflect a deepening rift over the ongoing war.
The summit also saw leaders condemning Israel’s repeated attacks on UN facilities in Gaza and its move to ban the UN Palestinian Refugee Agency (UNRWA) from operating in Israel and East Jerusalem. These actions have sparked international concern, with the US and UK expressing alarm over the restrictions on humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, criticized the global community for failing to end the conflict, accusing Israel of causing widespread starvation in Gaza. “Where the international community has primarily failed is in stopping the immediate conflict and ending Israel’s aggression,” he said.
The conflict in Gaza escalated following Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which killed over 1,200 people and saw 251 hostages taken. In response, Israel launched a military campaign that has reportedly resulted in over 43,400 deaths, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
Amid the regional tensions, Gulf leaders have also speculated about the potential return of Donald Trump to the White House, viewing his deal-making skills as critical to resolving conflicts in the region.
