Ghunaim: Saudi Leading Role on Palestinian Cause Rooted in Its Historic Stance Since King Abdulaziz Era

Saudi flag - File Photo/AAWSAT

Asharq Al Awsat

05:45-28 July 2025 AD ـ 02 Safar 1447 AH

05:44-28 July 2025 AD ـ 02 Safar 1447 AH

Asharq Al Awsat

05:45-28 July 2025 AD ـ 02 Safar 1447 AH

05:44-28 July 2025 AD ـ 02 Safar 1447 AH

Ghunaim: Saudi Leading Role on Palestinian Cause Rooted in Its Historic Stance Since King Abdulaziz Era

Saudi flag - File Photo/AAWSAT

Palestine’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mazen Ghunaim affirmed that Saudi Arabia’s leading role toward the Palestinian cause is a continuation of its longstanding historic stance since the era of late King Abdulaziz Al Saud, who entrenched support for Palestine as the foremost cause of Arabs and Muslims.

“The leadership and people of the State of Palestine express their deep appreciation and gratitude for the firm and consistent support of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, toward the Palestinian cause,” the Palestinian ambassador said.

“This support was reaffirmed in the announcement by Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah regarding the Kingdom’s co-chairmanship with the French Republic of the high-level international conference on resolving the Palestinian cause through peaceful solutions and implementing the two-state solution, to be held at the United Nations headquarters in New York this week”, he added.

He noted that the Kingdom has always embodied the fundamental pillar in defending the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and supporting international, Arab, and Islamic efforts to end the occupation and achieve a just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution, with an independent Palestinian state established along the 1967 borders and East Jerusalem as its capital.

The Palestinian ambassador highlighted the Saudi foreign minister’s affirmation of the Kingdom’s support for the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, launched in September 2024 in partnership with the Kingdom of Norway and the European Union.

He also described the upcoming international conference in New York as an important opportunity to advance the implementation of international legitimacy resolutions, end the suffering of the Palestinian people, and uphold their inalienable rights.

Additionally, he stated that the Kingdom’s standing alongside Palestine today, as it did in the past, epitomizes steadfastness and nobility and embodies the meanings of true brotherhood. He stressed that his country will remain faithful to this generous support until the Palestinian people attain their full freedom in their independent state.

Saudi Arabia: High-Level Readiness for Hajj Season

Prince Saud bin Mishaal chairs Hajj and Umrah committee meeting in Makkah

Jeddah: Asharq Al Awsat

19:22-1 April 2026 AD ـ 13 Shawwal 1447 AH

Jeddah: Asharq Al Awsat

19:22-1 April 2026 AD ـ 13 Shawwal 1447 AH

Saudi Arabia: High-Level Readiness for Hajj Season

Prince Saud bin Mishaal chairs Hajj and Umrah committee meeting in Makkah

Saudi authorities on Wednesday reviewed preparedness for this year’s Hajj season, assessing operational plans and readiness indicators as officials called for intensified coordination ahead of the annual pilgrimage.

The permanent Hajj and Umrah committee, chaired by Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, examined scenarios already implemented and others planned to ensure full readiness, in a meeting held under directives from Prince Khalid bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz.

Prince Saud bin Mishaal thanked agencies involved in the Ramadan Umrah season, citing extensive logistical and human support from the Saudi leadership that helped deliver smooth operations for visitors to the Grand Mosque.

Officials reviewed Ramadan performance across transport, ambulance and healthcare services, reporting no epidemics or incidents.

The meeting also covered the departure phase of Umrah performers via King Abdulaziz International Airport, and progress on upgrading the Hajj and Umrah terminal complex, with its first and second phases completed.

In Madinah, Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz chaired a parallel meeting of the regional Hajj and Umrah committee, attended by his deputy, Prince Saud bin Nahar bin Saud bin Abdulaziz, to review government preparations for the upcoming season.

Prince Salman congratulated agencies on the success of Ramadan operations, saying coordinated plans enabled visitors to perform rituals in a calm and secure environment.

He said the results reflect sustained leadership support for the Two Holy Mosques and their visitors, highlighting oversight by Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz to enhance services and ensure safety.

He stressed the need for full readiness across government, service and volunteer sectors, calling for proactive planning and stronger coordination to reinforce facilities and services in line with the care provided to pilgrims.

The Madinah meeting issued recommendations to support relevant entities and ensure high-quality services for visitors to the Prophet’s Mosque during Hajj.

Prince Salman was also briefed by the Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq al-Rabiah, accompanied by Pilgrim Experience Program CEO Mohammed Ismail, on a digital dashboard designed to track the readiness of Hajj projects and improve coordination.

Al-Rabiah said the platform enables continuous monitoring through daily updates, including readiness plans and performance indicators, project progress in the holy sites, alignment of operational plans, and integration with a central database.

Prince Salman also reviewed the Hajj and Umrah sector’s indicators platform, which presents real-time data and analysis on services provided to pilgrims. The platform supports decision-making by delivering timely, precise data, enhancing monitoring efficiency and strengthening system-wide readiness within an integrated institutional framework.

Gulf

UAE Air Defenses Intercept 5 Ballistic Missiles, 35 UAVs

UAE air defenses on Wednesday engaged 5 ballistic missiles and 35 UAVs launched from Iran (AFP).

Asharq Al Awsat

15:30-1 April 2026 AD ـ 13 Shawwal 1447 AH

Asharq Al Awsat

15:30-1 April 2026 AD ـ 13 Shawwal 1447 AH

UAE Air Defenses Intercept 5 Ballistic Missiles, 35 UAVs

UAE air defenses on Wednesday engaged 5 ballistic missiles and 35 UAVs launched from Iran (AFP).

The UAE air defenses on Wednesday intercepted 5 ballistic missiles and 35 UAVs launched from Iran, according to the Emirates News Agency (WAM).

The agency said that, since the start of the Iranian attacks, UAE air defenses have engaged 438 ballistic missiles, 19 cruise missiles and 2,012 UAVs.

A WAM statement said the attacks resulted in the martyrdom of two members of the armed forces while performing their national duty, in addition to the death of a Moroccan civilian contracted by the Armed Forces, as well as nine civilian fatalities of Pakistani, Nepali, Bangladeshi, Palestinian and Indian nationalities.

A total of 190 people were also injured, with injuries ranging from minor to moderate and severe, from various nationalities including Emirati, Egyptian, Sudanese, Ethiopian, Filipino, Pakistani, Iranian and Indian.

The Ministry of Defense affirmed that it remains fully prepared and ready to deal with any threats and will firmly confront anything that aims to undermine the country’s security, in a manner that preserves its sovereignty and stability and protects its interests and national capabilities.