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Saudi Arabia Declares Saturday First Day of Ramadan

People sight the Ramadan crescent moon. (Majmaah University)
People sight the Ramadan crescent moon. (Majmaah University)
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Saudi Arabia Declares Saturday First Day of Ramadan

People sight the Ramadan crescent moon. (Majmaah University)
People sight the Ramadan crescent moon. (Majmaah University)

Saudi Arabia declared on Friday that Saturday was the first day of the holy fasting month of Ramadan.

"Tomorrow, Saturday, will be the first day of the blessed month of Ramadan," the Kingdom said Friday, in a statement carried by the official SPA news agency.

Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE also announced the Saturday start of Ramadan.

The starting date of the dawn-dusk fasting month of Ramadan is determined by both lunar calculations and physical sightings of a new moon.

On the occasion, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz said Ramadan was an opportunity to shun disputes.

Delivering a message on his behalf, acting Media Minister Dr. Majid al-Qasabi said: "God has blessed us with Ramadan after the coronavirus pandemic is on the decline."

"We thank God in the great success we achieved in combating the pandemic and its impact," he added.

He stressed that the Kingdom is honored in welcoming the Umrah and Hajj pilgrims after the COVID-19 restrictions were lifted.

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Saudi Arabia Rejects Israel’s Plan to Capture Gaza 

A Palestinian man reacts following an Israeli strike that hit Gaza City's Thai restaurant and its vicinity on May 7, 2025. (AFP)
A Palestinian man reacts following an Israeli strike that hit Gaza City's Thai restaurant and its vicinity on May 7, 2025. (AFP)
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Saudi Arabia Rejects Israel’s Plan to Capture Gaza 

A Palestinian man reacts following an Israeli strike that hit Gaza City's Thai restaurant and its vicinity on May 7, 2025. (AFP)
A Palestinian man reacts following an Israeli strike that hit Gaza City's Thai restaurant and its vicinity on May 7, 2025. (AFP)

Saudi Arabia expressed on Wednesday its categorical rejection of Israel’s plan to seize control of the Gaza Strip, slamming its ongoing violation of international law and international humanitarian law.

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said Saudi Arabia rejects any attempts to expand settlements in Palestinian territories, stressing that Israeli authorities must abide by international resolutions.

It reiterated the Kingdom’s support for the Palestinian cause in line with international resolutions. It renewed its backing of the 2002 Arab peace initiative and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state according to the 1967 border with east Jerusalem as its capital.

Israel has approved a plan to intensify its operations in Gaza, which would include seizing the enclave, holding on to captured territories, forcibly displacing Palestinians to southern Gaza and taking control of aid distribution along with private security companies.

Israel is also calling up tens of thousands of reserve soldiers to carry out the plan. Israel says the plan will be gradual and will not be implemented until after US President Donald Trump wraps up his visit to the region later this month.