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Saudi Arabia Hopes Gaza Ceasefire Will End ‘Barbaric Israeli War’

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the cabinet meeting in AlUla. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the cabinet meeting in AlUla. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Hopes Gaza Ceasefire Will End ‘Barbaric Israeli War’

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the cabinet meeting in AlUla. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the cabinet meeting in AlUla. (SPA)

The Saudi government hoped on Tuesday that the ceasefire in Gaza would end the “barbaric Israeli war” and help address the root cause of the conflict by allowing the Palestinian people to achieve their rights, starting with the establishment of an independent state based on the 1967 border and with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chaired the cabinet meeting that was held in AlUla.

The ministers were briefed on the telephone call Crown Prince Mohammed held with French President Emmanuel Macron, which addressed bilateral relations and explored ways to strengthen cooperation.

The cabinet deemed the establishment of the Saudi-Singapore Strategic Partnership Council and the inaugural meeting of the Saudi-Thai Coordination Council as significant milestones in fostering global partnerships. These initiatives aim to strengthen bilateral cooperation, aligning with shared interests and objectives.

The cabinet congratulated to US President Donald Trump on his inauguration and acknowledged the distinguished Saudi-US relations.

It reviewed the outcomes of several international conferences hosted by the Kingdom. It commended the visionary initiatives and projects presented at the Hajj Conference and Exhibition, which highlighted the Kingdom's commitment to serving pilgrims to the two holy mosques. This commitment was exemplified by welcoming over 18 million international pilgrims and Umrah performers in 2024. The Kingdom continuously strives to improve the quality of services for all visitors.

Moreover, the cabinet acknowledged the significant global participation in the fourth Future Minerals Forum. This included the signing of 126 agreements and memoranda of understanding valued at SAR107 billion, as well as impactful launches set to stimulate domestic and international sector growth.

The cabinet reviewed key performance indicators across various sectors. It hailed the agricultural sector for achieving high self-sufficiency rates in numerous products and crops. It highlighted the remarkable achievements and record-breaking progress in water sector projects, boosting the effectiveness of strategies and programs to achieve food and water security and sustainable development.

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Gulf

Saudi Arabia, Arab and Muslim Countries Condemn Israeli E1 Settlement Plan

Israeli settlers move into the former Israeli settlement of Kadim near the West Bank city of Jenin, 20 August 2026. (EPA)
Israeli settlers move into the former Israeli settlement of Kadim near the West Bank city of Jenin, 20 August 2026. (EPA)
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Saudi Arabia, Arab and Muslim Countries Condemn Israeli E1 Settlement Plan

Israeli settlers move into the former Israeli settlement of Kadim near the West Bank city of Jenin, 20 August 2026. (EPA)
Israeli settlers move into the former Israeli settlement of Kadim near the West Bank city of Jenin, 20 August 2026. (EPA)

The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye, Qatar, and Egypt condemned on Friday “Israel’s continued illegal settlement policies in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, categorically rejecting the E1 settlement plan and related settlement activities east of occupied East Jerusalem.”

In a statement, they further reiterated their condemnation “of the violations and acts of violence perpetrated by settlers, with the support of the Israeli occupying authorities, against the Palestinian people and their property.”

They stressed that such acts “in no way diminish the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and constitute violations of international law and relevant United Nations resolutions, while posing a serious threat to regional and international peace and security.”

The ministers warned that the E1 settlement plan “constitutes a dangerous escalation that further advances settlement expansion and annexation and undermines the geographical contiguity of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, particularly between the West Bank and East Jerusalem, thereby threatening the viability and realization of an independent, contiguous Palestinian State based on the 1967 lines with East Jerusalem as its capital.”

Such actions “are a direct challenge to international efforts aimed at achieving peace,” foremost among them US President Donald Trump’s Comprehensive Plan, “including its unequivocal rejection of annexation and forced displacement, and the mechanisms envisaged for its implementation through the Board of Peace.”

It is also a violation Trump’s “firm commitment to not allow annexation of the West Bank, with a view to achieving stability and bringing the conflict to an end.”

The ministers reaffirmed that the two-state solution, in accordance with international law and relevant United Nations resolutions, “remains the only viable path towards a just, comprehensive and lasting peace.”

They warned that “actions aimed at undermining this solution risk further escalating tensions, threatening regional and international peace and security, and jeopardizing prospects for lasting peace and stability in the region.”

The ministers expressed their support for “all efforts aimed at ensuring accountability, including through appropriate international measures and sanctions against entities and individuals responsible for illegal settlement activities, including the E1 settlement plan, as well as those supporting, facilitating or implementing policies of settlement expansion and annexation.”

They called for an end to “any support or financing that contributes to the establishment, expansion or entrenchment of illegal settlements.”

They stressed that “the lack of accountability contributes to the continuation of violations and further undermines prospects for a just and comprehensive peace.”

The ministers called for “immediate action” to halt the E1 settlement plan, rescind all measures taken in connection with it, and cease all settlement activities and other measures “aimed at altering the geographic and demographic character of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”

They called on the UN Security Council, all states and relevant international actors “to uphold their responsibilities under international law and take urgent and effective measures to halt illegal settlement expansion, and to ensure the protection of the Palestinian people, safeguard their inalienable rights, including their right to self-determination, and realize their independent state, in accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions."

Gulf

Saudi Crown Prince Heads to France on Official Visit

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister. (SPA)
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Saudi Crown Prince Heads to France on Official Visit

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister. (SPA)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, traveled to France on Friday on an official visit.

In a statement, the Royal Court said the visit is taking place upon the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and in response to an invitation extended by French President Emmanuel Macron.

Gulf

Saudi Arabia Condemns Bombing Near Educational Center in Kabul

The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Saudi Arabia Condemns Bombing Near Educational Center in Kabul

The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed the Kingdom’s condemnation and denunciation of the bombing near an educational center in the Afghan capital, Kabul, which left dozens injured, SPA reported on Friday.

In a statement, the ministry reiterated the Kingdom's absolute rejection of all forms of violence, extremism, and terrorism, expressing solidarity with the Afghan government and people.

The ministry extended Saudi Arabia's wishes for a swift recovery to the injured and for lasting security, peace, and stability across Afghanistan.