RIYADH (QJ) – Saudi Arabia has condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposal to use the Kingdom’s territory for establishing a Palestinian state.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused Netanyahu of attempting to “divert attention” from Israel’s ongoing crimes in Gaza, including “ethnic cleansing.”
On Thursday, Netanyahu responded to a question from Channel 14 in Israel, where the journalist mistakenly said “Saudi state” instead of “Palestinian state.” Netanyahu stated, “Saudi Arabia can create a Palestinian state; they have plenty of land there.”
His statement sparked outrage from Arab countries, including Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, the UAE, Kuwait, Iraq, and the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi criticized Netanyahu’s remarks as “reckless and dangerous” and a testament to Israel’s disregard for international laws and United Nations agreements.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed appreciation for the “brotherly countries” that condemned Netanyahu’s statement.
The proposal echoes a previous controversial suggestion by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who proposed that the U.S. “take over” Gaza and resettle Palestinians elsewhere, which was widely condemned by Arab leaders as ethnic cleansing.
Trump also claimed that Saudi Arabia did not need the establishment of a Palestinian state to normalize ties with Israel, a claim repeatedly denied by Riyadh.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza has reportedly claimed the lives of at least 61,700 Palestinians, including around 18,000 children, and destroyed much of Gaza’s infrastructure. Over 14,000 people remain missing and are presumed dead.
Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel, which triggered the conflict, resulted in the deaths of 1,139 people and the capture of over 250 hostages, with many still believed to be held in the besieged territory.
