- Saudi Crown Prince accuses Israel of Genocide in Gaza
- The crown prince made the remarks during a summit of Muslim and Arab leaders
- He also condemned Israeli strikes on Lebanon and warned against any attacks on Iran
Saudi Crown Prince accuses Israel of Genocide in Gaza
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has denounced Israel’s actions in Gaza as “genocide,” marking one of the strongest criticisms of Israel by a Saudi official since the conflict began.
The crown prince made the remarks during a summit of Muslim and Arab leaders, where he also condemned Israeli strikes on Lebanon and warned against any attacks on Iran. The statement reflects a growing alignment between regional powers Riyadh and Tehran, signalling closer ties between the two historic rivals.
The summit saw widespread calls for an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and the West Bank, with other leaders echoing the crown prince’s sentiments. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan Al-Saud described the ongoing war as a failure of the international community, accusing Israel of causing starvation in Gaza.
On October 7 2023, Hamas attacked Israel killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 people hostage. The Hamas-run health ministry reports that more than 43,400 people have died in Gaza since the October 7 attacks.
A UN Human Rights Office report highlights the devastating impact on civilians, noting that nearly 70% of verified casualties in Gaza over the past six months have been women and children.