Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) has issued some of his harshest criticisms of Israel, accusing the country of committing “collective genocide” in Gaza. His comments were delivered on Monday at a high-level gathering of Islamic leaders in Riyadh, where he reiterated Saudi Arabia’s condemnation of the violence and called for international intervention.
“The Kingdom reiterates its condemnation and absolute refusal of the collective genocide committed by Israel against the brotherly Palestinian people,” he said. His remarks reflect Saudi Arabia’s firm stance on supporting Palestinian sovereignty and mark a significant shift from last year, when Saudi Arabia was engaged in normalization talks with Israel. Those talks, however, were suspended after Saudi Arabia demanded Palestinian statehood, a request rejected by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Rising Casualties and Renewed Criticism
Since Israel began its military operations in Gaza last year, more than 43,000 people have reportedly died in the enclave. Many civilians remain trapped under rubble as international calls for humanitarian aid intensify.
In response, Saudi Arabia’s crown prince has ramped up his calls for international oversight and urged nations to pressure Israel to “respect Iran’s sovereignty and not to attack (Iranian) territories.” This stance highlights a new alignment with Iran, marking a sharp departure from MBS’s 2017 stance, where he compared Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to Adolf Hitler. Saudi Arabia and Iran restored diplomatic ties last year after decades of regional conflict, indicating shifting alliances in response to the protracted violence in Gaza and the stalling of the Israel normalization process.
Middle Eastern Leaders Convene in Riyadh
The conference in Riyadh drew several prominent Middle Eastern leaders, including Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref was also in attendance and voiced support for the resistance movements of Hezbollah and Hamas, despite Saudi Arabia’s historical opposition to these Iran-backed militias.
