Saudi prince working to contain Israel-Gaza fighting
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told Abbas the Gulf kingdom continued "to stand by the Palestinian people to achieve their legitimate rights to a decent life.
Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler told Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas he was working to prevent "an expansion" of conflict after the surprise Hamas attack on Israel, Saudi state media said early Tuesday.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also told Abbas the Gulf kingdom continued "to stand by the Palestinian people to achieve their legitimate rights to a decent life, achieve their hopes and aspirations, and achieve just and lasting peace," the official Saudi Press Agency reported.
More To Read
- South Africa leads global push for Gaza justice as Israeli general cancels visit
- Israel says Hamas spokesman killed in Gaza airstrike
- US bars Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, 80 officials from attending UN meeting in New York
- Killing of journalists in Gaza hospital attack ‘should shock the world’: UN rights office
- 5,000 Kenyan Muslims to take part in 2026 Hajj pilgrimage
- How can Western countries back up Palestine recognition with action? Here are 4 ways to pressure Israel
Reeling from the Palestinian Islamist group's unprecedented ground, air and sea attacks, Israel has counted 800 dead and launched a withering barrage of strikes on Gaza that have raised the death toll there to 687.
The spiralling violence kicked off amid speculation that Saudi Arabia, which has never recognised Israel, would agree to normalise ties as part of a deal in which it would obtain security guarantees from the United States as well as assistance in developing a civilian nuclear programme.
However, Prince Mohammed told Fox News last month that the Palestinian issue was "very important" for Saudi Arabia, home to the holiest sites in Islam in Mecca and Medina.
"We need to solve that part. We need to ease the life of the Palestinians," Prince Mohammed
said.
Analysts say any progress towards normalisation has now been dealt a heavy blow by the ongoing fighting.
Prince Mohammed has also spoken about the crisis by phone with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Jordan's King Abdullah II, SPA reported.
Other Topics To Read
Top Stories Today
