Saudi Arabia has firmly rejected comments made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the displacement of Palestinians. This was outlined in a statement from the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday. The controversy arose when Netanyahu, during an interview on Channel 14, appeared to joke about the possibility of establishing a Palestinian state on Saudi territory. This happened after an interviewer mistakenly referred to a “Saudi state” instead of a “Palestinian state,” before quickly correcting themselves.
While the Saudi statement addressed Netanyahu’s remarks, it refrained from specifically mentioning the controversial suggestion of establishing a Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia. However, the kingdom reiterated its strong stance on the matter. It underscored that such proposals are unacceptable and violate the sovereignty of its land.
Saudi Arabia’s condemnation was echoed by both Egypt and Jordan, with Cairo calling the suggestion a “direct infringement of Saudi sovereignty.” The Kingdom also expressed its appreciation for the rejection of Netanyahu’s comments by other Arab states. It affirmed the importance of the Palestinian people’s historical and legal connection to their land.
“The occupying extremist mindset does not understand the deep and historic significance of Palestinian territory for the Palestinian people,” the Saudi statement noted.
This controversy comes amid ongoing discussions surrounding the fate of Palestinians, particularly in Gaza, where the situation remains dire. On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump made headlines with a proposal suggesting that the U.S. could “take over the Gaza Strip” from Israel and transform it into a “Riviera of the Middle East.” This would be done by resettling Palestinians elsewhere. The suggestion was swiftly condemned by Arab nations, adding to the tensions surrounding the Gaza conflict.
Despite these proposals, Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its position. It stated it would not normalize relations with Israel unless a Palestinian state is established. This stance is consistent with the kingdom’s longstanding support for Palestinian sovereignty. Riyadh rejects any attempts to bypass the creation of a Palestinian state as a prerequisite for peace in the region.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has seen devastating losses. Gaza authorities report over 47,000 casualties among the nearly 2 million Palestinians living in the area. This follows Israel’s military offensive against Hamas, which was launched after the militant group carried out an attack on October 7, 2023. The attack killed around 1,200 Israelis and took more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli figures.
