Saudi crown prince says Israel is committing ‘genocide’ in Gaza

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza as “genocide” in some of the harshest public criticism of the country by a Saudi official since the start of the war.

Speaking at a summit between Muslim and Arab leaders, the prince also criticized Israeli attacks on Lebanon and Iran.

Israel has vehemently denied that its forces are committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

In a sign of improving ties between rivals Riyadh and Tehran, Prince Mohammed also warned Israel against launching attacks on Iranian soil.

Saudi’s de facto leader was joined by other leaders present in calling for a total Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank and Gaza.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister said it was a “mistake by the international community” that the war in Gaza had not been stopped and accused Israel of causing starvation in the area.

Prince Faisal Bin Farhan Al-Saud said: “Where the international community has primarily failed is to end the immediate conflict and put an end to Israel’s aggression.”

The war in Gaza was triggered by Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023, when hundreds of gunmen entered southern Israel. About 1,200 people were killed and 251 others taken hostage.

Israel retaliated by launching a military campaign to destroy Hamas, in which more than 43,400 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

A report by the United Nations Human Rights Office found it close 70% of confirmed casualties over a six-month period in Gaza were women and children.

Leaders at the summit also condemned what they described as Israel’s “continuous attacks” against UN personnel and facilities in Gaza.

Last month, the Knesset passed a bill to ban UNRWA, the UN’s Palestinian refugee agency, from operating in Israel and occupied East Jerusalem, accusing the organization of collaborating with Hamas.

Several countries, including the United States and Britain, have expressed serious concern over the move, which limits the agency’s ability to transfer aid to Gaza.

In the background of the well-attended summit is Donald Trump’s return to the White House.

The leaders of the Gulf are aware of his closeness to Israel, but they also have good relations with him and want him to use his influence and his love of making deals to ensure an end to conflicts in this region.

In Saudi Arabia, Trump is seen much more favorably than Joe Biden, but his track record in the Middle East is mixed.

He pleased Israel and angered the Muslim world by recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital as well as the annexation of the occupied Golan Heights. He also secured the Abraham Accords in 2020, in which the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco established full diplomatic relations with Israel, and Sudan agreed to do so.

An editorial in a leading Saudi newspaper today said: “A new era of hope. The return of Trump and the promise of stability.”