Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has condemned Israel's actions in Gaza as “massacre” in one of the strongest public criticisms of the country by a Saudi official since the start of the war.
Speaking at a conference of Muslim and Arab leaders, the prince also condemned Israel's attacks on Lebanon and Iran, and – in a sign of improving relations between rivals Riyadh and Tehran, he warned that Israel should not launch an attack on Iranian soil.
The de facto leader of Saudi Arabia joined other leaders in calling for Israel's complete withdrawal from the West Bank and Gaza.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia's foreign minister said it was “a failure of the international community” that the war in Gaza was not stopped, accusing Israel of causing famine there.
Prince Faisal Bin Farhan Al-Saud said: “Where the international community has largely failed to end the conflict quickly and end Israel's violence.”
The war in Gaza was triggered by a Hamas attack on 7 October 2023, which saw hundreds of gunmen enter southern Israel. About 1,200 people were killed and another 251 were captured.
Israel retaliated by launching a military campaign against Hamas, which has killed more than 43,400 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
A report by the UN Human Rights Office found that close 70% of the confirmed victims in the six month period in Gaza were women and children.
Leaders at the conference also condemned what they described as Israel's “continuous attacks” on UN staff and facilities in Gaza.
Last month, the Knesset passed a bill to ban UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, from operating in Israel and occupying East Jerusalem, accusing the organization of collaborating with Hamas.
Several countries, including the US and the UK, have expressed serious concern about the move that limits the agency's ability to deliver aid to Gaza.
After a well-attended meeting, it's Donald Trump's return to the White House.
Gulf leaders recognize his closeness to Israel, but they also have good relations with him, and want him to use his influence and willingness to make an agreement to end conflicts in the region.
In Saudi Arabia, Trump is viewed more favorably than Joe Biden, but his track record in the Middle East is mixed.
He pleased Israel and angered the Muslim world by recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital and annexing the coveted Golan Heights. He also secured the Abraham Accords in 2020 where the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco established full diplomatic relations with Israel and Sudan agreed to do so.
Nevertheless, an editorial in a leading Saudi newspaper today is headlined: “A new era of hope. The return of Trump and the promise of stability.”
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