Saudi Arabia on Monday condemned what it called Israel's genocide against Palestinians, which has left over 150,000 dead, injured, or missing, mostly women and children.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, speaking at an emergency Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh, criticized Israel’s attacks on civilians, violations at Al-Aqsa Mosque, and efforts to weaken the Palestinian Authority. He warned these actions undermine peace efforts and Palestinians’ rights.
The Crown Prince also criticized Israel for blocking humanitarian aid in Palestinian territories, including halting operations by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA).
He pledged Saudi support for Palestinians and Lebanese people facing the ongoing Israeli attacks. The Crown Prince urged the international community to act immediately to stop the violence and protect peace.
Dr. Hesham Alghannam of the Carnegie Middle East Center highlighted Saudi Arabia’s strong stance, calling Israel’s actions in Gaza “genocide”—the Kingdom’s harshest condemnation of Israel’s human rights violations.
Saudi Arabia considers the Palestinian Authority (PA) a vital representative for Palestinians in peace talks and international matters, said Saudi scholar Alghannam, stressing its key role in achieving a two-state solution.
Alghannam noted that Israel’s actions, including military aggression and expanding illegal West Bank settlements, undermine the PA’s ability to govern and reduce the land available for a future Palestinian state.
He added that Saudi Arabia highlights core Palestinian rights, such as self-determination, refugee return, and statehood, accusing Israel of systematically blocking these rights.
Saudi Arabia’s position is rallying support from Arab, Islamic, and international communities against Israel’s actions in Gaza and Lebanon, said Dr. Ali Dabkel Al-Anazi, a media professor at King Saud University.
“The Kingdom has condemned the aggression on Gaza and Lebanon, as well as attacks on Iran,” he noted.
Saudi Arabia is determined to lead efforts to halt Israeli attacks on Palestinians and Lebanese and push for a two-state solution, said Al-Anazi
He said the kingdom’s description of Israel’s actions as “crimes” reflects a strong stance in supporting Palestinian rights and reviving peace talks for a state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Al-Anazi noted that Saudi Arabia’s summit aimed to unify Arab and Islamic positions and pressure the incoming US administration of Donald Trump to act.
“Saudi Arabia opposes temporary truces or partial solutions,” he said, emphasizing its goals: a ceasefire, humanitarian aid to Gaza, ending forced displacement, halting attacks on Lebanon, and achieving a fair resolution with a Palestinian state.
He added that Saudi efforts have led to 149 countries recognizing Palestine and the creation of a global alliance, which held its first meeting in Riyadh with 90 nations and UN organizations.
Since Israel’s military operation last year, Saudi Arabia has focused on protecting the Palestinian cause, both in land and people, said Dr. Mutlaq Al-Mutairi, a political media professor at King Saud University.
He noted that the Kingdom has increased diplomatic efforts to secure Palestine's recognition as a state and membership in the United Nations.
Al-Mutairi added that Saudi Arabia’s push for an international coalition to recognize Palestine, regardless of Israel’s position, has been a political victory, making it harder to ignore the Palestinian issue.
He emphasized that Saudi Arabia’s stance is based on the belief that Palestine is an Arab state and its existence is an Arab responsibility.
On the humanitarian front, Al-Mutairi said Saudi Arabia has been committed to providing aid to Gaza and Lebanon, ensuring it remains separate from political or military considerations.
He pointed to Saudi support for UNRWA as a key part of its effort to protect the safety and health of people in both Palestine and Lebanon.
“The situation is difficult, but delivering aid is essential,” he said. “There is no alternative to this support.”
