Gaza
\nSaudi Arabia has strongly criticized Israel for the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza and the attacks on \u201cdefenceless civilians,\u201d in the kingdom\u2019s most scathing condemnation since the outbreak of the recent conflict.
\nAnd as per AFP sources, Saudi Arabia has also paused talks on normalisation with Israel.
\nRiyadh \u201caffirms its categorical rejection of calls for the forced displacement of the Palestinian people from Gaza, and its condemnation of the continued targeting of defenceless civilians there\u201d, the kingdom\u2019s foreign ministry said in a statement.
\nThousands of Palestinians sought refuge in southern Gaza following Israel\u2019s call for over a million to evacuate the northern part of the besieged enclave in anticipation of an imminent ground offensive.
\nThe Saudi statement, denouncing the actions in Gaza, coincided with the arrival of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Riyadh as part of his six-nation tour of Arab countries. The visit comes amid continued Israeli strikes on Gaza in retaliation for a surprise weekend attack by Hamas, which has been deemed the deadliest in Israel\u2019s history.
\nThe ongoing war has complicated efforts by the Biden administration to foster normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia, a significant player in the region and the home of Islam\u2019s two holiest sites.
\nSaudi Arabia, historically not recognizing Israel, has issued multiple statements in the past week reaffirming its support for the Palestinian cause.
\nIn a notable development, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman engaged in a discussion with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on the \u201ccurrent military situation in Gaza and its environs\u201d.
\nThis conversation follows a surprise China-brokered rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran in March, marking the first call between the two leaders since the diplomatic breakthrough.
\nFriday\u2019s Saudi foreign ministry statement also included a call for the international community \u201cto quickly move to stop all forms of military escalation against civilians, prevent a humanitarian catastrophe, and provide the necessary relief and medical needs for the residents of Gaza.\u201d
\n\u201cDepriving them of these basic requirements for a decent life is a violation of international humanitarian law and will exacerbate the depth of the crisis and suffering that this region is witnessing,\u201d it added.
\nAt the Grand Mosque in Makkah on Friday, Sheikh Osama bin Abdullah Khayyat, the imam, visibly moved, led prayers, expressing concern for the well-being of Muslims in Palestine: \u201cMay God protect the Muslims in Palestine.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Gaza Saudi Arabia has strongly criticized Israel for the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza and the attacks on \u201cdefenceless civilians,\u201d in the kingdom\u2019s most scathing condemnation since the outbreak of the recent conflict. And as per AFP sources, Saudi Arabia has also paused talks on normalisation with Israel. Riyadh \u201caffirms its categorical rejection of calls […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":361858,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-361832","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n