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Saudi FM Stresses Palestinian People’s Right to Independent State

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah chairs the OIC meeting in Jeddah. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah chairs the OIC meeting in Jeddah. (SPA)
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Saudi FM Stresses Palestinian People’s Right to Independent State

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah chairs the OIC meeting in Jeddah. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah chairs the OIC meeting in Jeddah. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah chaired on Wednesday an emergency open-ended extraordinary meeting of the Executive Committee of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to address the Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip.

Held at the ministerial level, the meeting was held at the headquarters of the organization's General Secretariat in Jeddah.

Prince Faisal said the meeting was called in response to tragic and violent developments in the region. The aim was to discuss and assess the grave situation regarding the escalation of military operations in the Gaza Strip and surrounding areas.

He reiterated the Kingdom's firm rejection of the repeated and escalating attacks carried out by Israeli forces. "Despite numerous appeals for an immediate cessation of these military actions, they continue to result in the tragic loss of innocent civilian lives, including children, women, and the elderly," he added.

"Our values and principles dictated by our righteous Islamic religion prohibit the unlawful killing of people, terrorizing the safe people, and targeting children, women and the elderly," he stressed.

Prince Faisal emphasized the Kingdom's grave concerns regarding the deteriorating situation, highlighting the unpredictable consequences and the potential for increased extremism. He also underscored the alarming levels of violence and the growing scope of the crisis.

He therefore called on the international community to take a responsible stance by providing protection to civilian Palestinians, the need to abide by the international humanitarian law without selectivity or double standards, including the rejection of forced displacement, lifting the siege on Gaza, and stopping the targeting of critical infrastructure and interests.

The FM stressed the need to seriously exert efforts to alleviate the deteriorating humanitarian situation and reduce the growing suffering in Gaza by calling for the evacuation of the injured, and opening humanitarian corridors to deliver aid, medical equipment and medicine.

He underlined the importance of upholding peace as a strategic option to break the cycle of violence and suffering.

"As part of our position in support of the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, we call upon the international community to fulfil its responsibilities in implementing international resolutions and to create conditions necessary for restoring the course of peace to guarantee the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and lead to a just and lasting peace that contributes to regional and international peace and security," he stated.

The Kingdom will continue to coordinate closely with Arab countries and partners in the international community to end this crisis in a way that meets the aspirations of the leaders and peoples of Islamic countries, and guarantees legitimate rights to a decent life under a just and comprehensive peace for the Palestinian people, he remarked.

The Kingdom's delegation included Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Eng. Waleed bin Abdulkarim El-Khereiji, Undersecretary of Foreign Ministry for Political Affairs Dr. Saud Al-Sati, and Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the OIC Dr. Saleh Al-Suhaibani.

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Gulf

Türkiye: The Makkah Agreement Will Be a Pivotal Platform That Changes the Rules of the Game in the Region

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement on August 7 (Turkish Presidency).
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement on August 7 (Turkish Presidency).
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Türkiye: The Makkah Agreement Will Be a Pivotal Platform That Changes the Rules of the Game in the Region

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement on August 7 (Turkish Presidency).
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement on August 7 (Turkish Presidency).

Türkiye said the Makkah Agreement on mutual defense will become a pivotal platform that will change the rules of the game in the region.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the Makkah Agreement is progressing well and represents a very strong expression of political will, with intensive efforts under way to translate that will into practical steps.

He added that steps are currently being taken to institutionalize the agreement, and that work to establish the secretariat and associated military command stipulated in the agreement is nearing completion. An understanding has been reached, he said, leaving the deployment of personnel and activation of the command as the remaining steps, adding that Türkiye is satisfied with the progress being made in this regard.

In a televised interview late Saturday, Fidan said the Makkah Agreement is open to the countries of the region and that, once the steps of the foundational phase are completed, the necessary consultations can be held with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan regarding the admission of new allies.

He explained that there is an initial decision to that effect, noting that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had said from the outset that if the framework did not expand, it would not constitute an alliance but rather a bloc. He added that Türkiye's regional vision is based on bringing together the largest possible group of countries in the region to establish a common defense framework.

Fidan stressed that this defense framework is not directed against outside parties. Rather, its aim is to enable the region to address its internal problems more effectively through the concept of regional ownership, and to prevent new crises from emerging by creating an environment of trust that did not previously exist. He said the fundamental starting point for all of this is the pursuit of regional solutions to regional problems.

Regarding the concerns expressed by some countries, and comments from Israel, Iran, India and Greece describing the Makkah Agreement as merely a piece of paper, Fidan said that the fact that these countries are concerned demonstrates the agreement's impact and importance.

He added that attempts to discredit the agreement and such forms of misinformation through the media are in fact a reflection of that impact and the concerns it has generated. He said Türkiye simply smiles and moves on because such claims have no basis.

Fidan pointed out that Türkiye has been a member of NATO since 1952 and that NATO has activated Article 5 only twice in its history, yet no one described the alliance as merely a piece of paper. He said that describing an agreement signed only three months ago in such terms, despite the rapid progress it is making, amounts to an attempt to end something before it has even begun. He added that, in reality, such an approach indirectly reflects the perception of the threat held by those making these comments, and said the Makkah Agreement will become a pivotal platform that changes the rules of the game.

Asked about the Houthis' recent attacks targeting Saudi Arabia and whether the principle of mutual defense under the Makkah Agreement would be activated, Fidan said Saudi Arabia had come under serious attacks targeting its territorial integrity, sovereignty and infrastructure. He said Türkiye stands in solidarity with Saudi Arabia on this matter, is assessing and analyzing the situation, and is conducting consultations that cannot be made public. These discussions, he added, could identify specific military needs in certain technical areas, and Türkiye would have no difficulty meeting them.

He noted that the Turkish Foreign Ministry had condemned the attacks against Saudi Arabia, particularly those targeting Makkah and oil infrastructure. He stressed that it is unacceptable to turn this matter into part of the ongoing conflict between Iran and the United States, and that Saudi Arabia must be kept outside this equation because it is also not seeking to join it.

Gulf

Saudi FM Highlights Saudi Arabia’s Commitment to International Peace and Security

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah in Moscow on July 4, 2025. (Reuters)
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah in Moscow on July 4, 2025. (Reuters)
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Saudi FM Highlights Saudi Arabia’s Commitment to International Peace and Security

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah in Moscow on July 4, 2025. (Reuters)
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah in Moscow on July 4, 2025. (Reuters)

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah said that Saudi Arabia’s participation in the high-level week of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly this year reflects its approach of engaging with the international community, continuing its role in supporting international peace and security, promoting dialogue and mediation, and contributing to efforts to address shared challenges.

In a statement to SPA, Prince Faisal said that the Kingdom views the proceedings of this session, held under the theme "Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations That Delivers for All," as an opportunity to reaffirm the principles on which international institutions, foremost among them the United Nations, were established.

These principles include fulfilling their role in promoting security and peace, upholding international law and norms, and strengthening international cooperation in addressing crises.

He added that, in light of current developments in the region, the Kingdom affirms the need to uphold the principles of international law, which underscore respect for the sovereignty of states, the peaceful resolution of disputes, and the safety and freedom of navigation in international waterways, thereby safeguarding the security of all nations and advancing the aspirations of their peoples.

Prince Faisal also noted that, in its participation this year, the Kingdom places great importance on sustainable development, particularly artificial intelligence technologies and their responsible use to develop various sectors, enhance their efficiency, and support innovation, thus delivering tangible benefits to the people, coinciding with the Kingdom’s designation of 2026 as the Year of Artificial Intelligence.

Gulf

UN Security Council Condemns Houthi Attacks on Saudi Arabia

A UN Security Council meeting
A UN Security Council meeting
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UN Security Council Condemns Houthi Attacks on Saudi Arabia

A UN Security Council meeting
A UN Security Council meeting

The UN Security Council has warned of the consequences of the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and the threats posed to international navigation in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

The Council considered that the militia's military actions in Yemen, alongside its targeting of Saudi territory and commercial shipping, threaten to expand the regional conflict, undermine maritime security and international trade, and hinder regional and international efforts aimed at achieving peace in Yemen.

In a statement issued on Friday night, Council members expressed solidarity with the Kingdom in confronting assaults targeting civilians and civilian objects, affirming Saudi Arabia's inherent right to self-defense in accordance with international law.

The members called on the Houthi militia to immediately halt its military escalation and attacks affecting civilians, stressing the importance of the full implementation of Security Council Resolution 2216 of 2015 and subsequent relevant resolutions.

Reiterating support for the Yemeni government, the Council emphasized its commitment to Yemen's unity, sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.

Also, Council members denounced missile strikes directed at the Kingdom alongside attacks and threats against commercial shipping in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

They stressed the critical need to safeguard commercial vessels and crew members while upholding international navigational freedoms under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Council members affirmed that the Houthi strikes on Saudi territory, threats to shipping in the Red Sea and advances near the Bab Al-Mandab Strait, risked “further expanding the conflict, threatening maritime security and international trade, and undermining regional and international efforts to secure peace in Yemen.”

The Council also backed Riyadh directly, affirming “the inherent right of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to self-defense in accordance with international law” and expressing solidarity with the Kingdom “in the face of attacks impacting civilians and civilian objects on its territory.”

The Council members demanded that the Houthis immediately cease their attacks affecting civilians and civilian objects, expressing their grave concern over reports regarding the killing and injuring of civilians, as well as the destruction of civilian objects and infrastructure resulting from these attacks.

Members also expressed grave concern about reports of civilians killed and injured and noted that at least 125,000 people have been displaced in Yemen since the start of September, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

They warned that further escalation would worsen the country's dire humanitarian situation.
The members called for full, safe, rapid and unhindered humanitarian access and demanded the unconditional release of detainees, including 73 UN personnel and staff of NGOs, civil society groups and diplomatic missions.

The Council reaffirmed backing for UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg's efforts to broker a comprehensive political settlement guided by agreed references and relevant Security Council resolutions, and urged the Yemeni parties to engage constructively with UN efforts.