The de facto leader of Saudi Arabia criticized, on Friday, November 10, the actions of Israeli forces engaged in the conflict with Hamas in Gaza, as upcoming weekend summits are set to address the escalating violence in the Palestinian territory.
Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler on Friday denounced the conduct of Israeli forces fighting Hamas in Gaza, ahead of weekend summits that will focus on the unfolding violence in the Palestinian territory.
“We condemn the military aggression witnessed in the Gaza Strip, the targeting of civilians, and the continued violations of international humanitarian law by the Israeli occupation forces,” Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told a summit with African leaders, his first public comments on the Israel-Hamas war.
“We stress the necessity of stopping this war and forced displacement and creating conditions for the return of stability and achieving peace.”
The war has derailed progress towards a normalization deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia, which Prince Mohammed said in September was drawing “closer” every day.
Riyadh has repeatedly criticized attacks on civilians in statements, though Prince Mohammed had not publicly addressed them before Friday.
His comments at the Saudi-Africa summit came one day before the Gulf kingdom is set to host two emergency meetings on the fighting in Gaza, the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
Khalil Wakim, with AFP
