Saudi Arabia on Sunday strongly rejected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent remarks regarding the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, condemning them as an attempt to deflect attention from Israel’s ongoing military actions.
In a statement issued by the Saudi foreign ministry, the Kingdom welcomed the widespread rejection of Netanyahu’s comments by Arab and Islamic nations, stressing that such positions reaffirm "the centrality of the Palestinian cause to the Arab and Islamic world."
Riyadh dismissed Netanyahu’s remarks as an effort to "divert attention from the consecutive crimes committed by the Israeli occupation against Palestinian brothers in Gaza, including ethnic cleansing."
The statement further criticised what it termed an "extremist occupying mindset," accusing Israel of failing to recognise the deep-rooted historical, emotional, and legal ties between Palestinians and their land.
"The Palestinian people are rightful owners of their land, not outsiders or migrants who can be expelled at Israel’s whim," it asserted.
Saudi Arabia also held "extremist elements" responsible for obstructing peace efforts, stating that such forces had long prevented Israel from accepting peace, rejecting coexistence, and dismissing Arab peace initiatives while systematically oppressing Palestinians for over 75 years.
Riyadh reiterated its unwavering support for Palestinian statehood, asserting that "the Palestinian people’s rights remain unshakable and cannot be taken away, regardless of how much time passes."
The statement concluded by emphasising that a lasting solution could only be achieved through "reason and a commitment to the two-state solution."
The remarks come amid heightened tensions as Israel continues its military campaign in Gaza, which, according to Saudi Arabia, has "completely destroyed the territory and killed or injured more than 160,000 people, most of them women and children, without any sense of humanity or moral responsibility."
