Saudi Crown Prince Reiterates Rejection of Attacks against Gaza Civilians

Dignitaries are seen at the inaugural Gulf Cooperation Council and ASEAN summit in Riyadh. (SPA)
Dignitaries are seen at the inaugural Gulf Cooperation Council and ASEAN summit in Riyadh. (SPA)
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Saudi Crown Prince Reiterates Rejection of Attacks against Gaza Civilians

Dignitaries are seen at the inaugural Gulf Cooperation Council and ASEAN summit in Riyadh. (SPA)
Dignitaries are seen at the inaugural Gulf Cooperation Council and ASEAN summit in Riyadh. (SPA)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, reiterated on Friday Saudi Arabia’s categorical rejection of the targeting of civilians in Gaza under any pretext.

He underlined the importance of committing to international humanitarian law and the need for military operations to stop.

The ground must be paved for restoring stability and achieving permanent peace, he said as he chaired the inaugural Gulf Cooperation Council and ASEAN summit in Riyadh.

The summit, he added, consolidates the bonds of friendship between the two organizations and aims to develop the partnership to achieve the interests of people, bolster growth and cement security and stability.

Crown Prince Mohammed said he was looking forward to bolstering economic relations with the member countries and open new horizons of cooperation in all fields.

The closing statement of the summit called on all concerned parties to implement a ceasefire in Gaza and ensure that humanitarian aid and relief are delivered to Gaza.

Civilians must not be the targets of attacks and the parties must commit to international humanitarian law and the Geneva Convention.

The gatherers in Riyadh demanded the immediate and unconditional release of civilian hostages and detainees, especially women, children and the elderly.

They urged the concerned parties to exert efforts to reach a peaceful solution to the crisis.

Saudi Arabia, the European Union and Arab Leage all support the revival of the Middle East process in cooperation with Egypt and Jordan, they added.



Qatar PM Says Gaza Ceasefire Talks Make Some Progress

FILE PHOTO: The minaret of the Great Omari Mosque, which was hit in previous Israeli strike during the war, stands damaged in Gaza City, March 17, 2025. REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: The minaret of the Great Omari Mosque, which was hit in previous Israeli strike during the war, stands damaged in Gaza City, March 17, 2025. REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas/File Photo
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Qatar PM Says Gaza Ceasefire Talks Make Some Progress

FILE PHOTO: The minaret of the Great Omari Mosque, which was hit in previous Israeli strike during the war, stands damaged in Gaza City, March 17, 2025. REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: The minaret of the Great Omari Mosque, which was hit in previous Israeli strike during the war, stands damaged in Gaza City, March 17, 2025. REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas/File Photo

Qatar's prime minister said on Sunday that efforts to reach a new ceasefire in Gaza have made some progress but an agreement between Israel and Hamas to end the war remains elusive.

"We have seen on Thursday a bit of progress compared to other meetings yet we need to find an answer for the ultimate question: how to end this war. That's the key point of the entire negotiations," said Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who also serves as foreign minister, Reuters reported.

Mossad Director David Barnea traveled to Doha on Thursday to meet Sheikh Mohammed amid efforts to reach a new ceasefire in Gaza, Axios reported last week.

Sheikh Mohammed didn't say which elements of the ceasefire talks had progressed in recent days, but said Hamas and Israel remained at odds over the ultimate goal of negotiations.

He said the militant group is willing to return all remaining Israeli hostages if Israel ends the war in Gaza. But Israel wants Hamas to release the remaining hostages without offering a clear vision on ending the war, he said.

"When you don't have a common objective, a common goal between the parties, I believe the opportunities (to end the war) become very thin," Sheikh Mohammed said at a press conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

Fidan said talks Turkish officials have held with Hamas had shown the group would be more open to an agreement that goes beyond a ceasefire in Gaza and aims for a lasting solution to the crisis with Israel, including a two-state solution.

Israel resumed its offensive in Gaza on March 18 after a January ceasefire collapsed, saying it would keep up pressure on Hamas until it frees the remaining hostages still held in the enclave. Up to 24 of them are believed to still be alive.

The Gaza war started after Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack. Since then, Israel's offensive on the enclave killed more than 51,400, according to local health officials.