Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman recently condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza, labeling them as “genocide.” This declaration, made at a joint summit between the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Riyadh, marked the strongest statement yet by the Saudi leader on the conflict.
Prince Mohammed, alongside other Arab leaders, criticized Israel’s military operations in Gaza and Lebanon, advocating for an immediate ceasefire. Emphasizing solidarity with Palestinians, he described the summit as a continuation of prior meetings aimed at addressing “heinous Israeli aggressions” and called for international intervention to end the violence.
In his keynote speech, he referenced the severe toll on Palestinian civilians, mentioning over 150,000 casualties, including women and children. He reiterated Saudi Arabia’s support for a two-state solution, insisting that the kingdom would not normalize relations with Israel unless a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital is established. He also denounced Israel’s treatment of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and its restrictions on the Palestinian Authority, emphasizing that such actions hinder peace.
Prince Mohammed also criticized Israel’s prohibition of UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, and the attacks on humanitarian organizations in Gaza. Addressing regional security, he warned against further Israeli operations in Lebanon and called on the international community to demand Israel respect Iran’s sovereignty, cautioning against potential escalation.
Other leaders at the summit voiced similar concerns. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas urged sanctions on Israel and demanded a halt to settlement expansions. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, while refraining from using “genocide,” condemned the “systematic killing” in Gaza and rejected any Israeli plan for forced displacement of Gazans. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad called for a concrete plan to end Israel’s actions, while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned against Israeli plans to “annihilate Palestinians” and criticized Western support for Israel, calling for a unified response from Muslim nations.
Collectively, the leaders highlighted a shared demand for international accountability and reiterated their commitment to coordinated action in support of Palestinian rights and a peaceful resolution.
