Saudi Arabia has strongly condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s suggestion that the kingdom’s land could be used to establish a Palestinian state, Al Jazeera reported.
In a statement, the Saudi Foreign Ministry accused Netanyahu of trying to divert attention from Israel’s ongoing actions in Gaza, which it described as “ethnic cleansing.”
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia appreciates the condemnation, disapproval, and total rejection announced by brotherly countries regarding Netanyahu’s statements,” the ministry said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Netanyahu’s Controversial Remarks
The controversy arose during an interview on an Israeli media channel, where Netanyahu responded to a host’s slip of the tongue, mistakenly saying “Saudi state” instead of “Palestinian state.” Netanyahu replied:
“The Saudis can create a Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia; they have a lot of land over there.”
The interviewer responded that it was “an idea worth exploring,” triggering outrage across the Arab world.
Widespread Arab Condemnation
Netanyahu’s comments drew sharp criticism from several Arab nations, including:
- Qatar
- Jordan
- Egypt
- United Arab Emirates (UAE)
- Kuwait
- Iraq
- The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi denounced Netanyahu’s remarks, stating:
“These dangerous and irresponsible statements confirm Israel’s disregard for international laws, UN treaties, and the sovereignty of states.”
Saudi Arabia’s Stand on the Palestinian Issue
Saudi Arabia has consistently emphasized the centrality of the Palestinian cause in the Arab and Muslim world. It has also rejected claims that it would normalize relations with Israel without a Palestinian state being established.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry thanked Arab nations for rejecting Netanyahu’s suggestion, reaffirming that Palestinian land belongs to the Palestinian people.
Rising Death Toll in Gaza
The Israel-Palestine conflict has resulted in at least 61,700 Palestinian deaths, including around 18,000 children, as per Al Jazeera. Additionally, over 14,000 people are missing and presumed dead, while Gaza’s infrastructure has been devastated.
Meanwhile, former US President Donald Trump recently suggested that the US should “take over” Gaza, adding to the global debate on the crisis.
