Saudi Arabia postpones plans for normalization with Israel amid the escalation in Gaza
Riyadh will push for the issue of Israeli concessions to the Palestinians to take higher priority when discussions on normalization resume
The Saudi Arabian Kingdom has frozen plans, supported by the United States, to normalize relations with Israel, as indicated by informed sources.
This comes as Israeli escalation continues in the Gaza Strip, with the imminent threat of a ground war. Riyadh has expressed concern about Israel’s violations against civilians.
According to the same sources, Israeli escalation in Gaza will delay the talks supported by the United States regarding normalization with Israel. In return, Riyadh is seeking a joint defense agreement, confirming previous expert assessments that developments will negatively affect Washington’s efforts to promote normalization between Riyadh and Tel Aviv.
One source stated, “The talks cannot continue at the moment, and the issue of Israeli concessions to the Palestinians must be given higher priority when discussions resume,” indicating that Riyadh still considers the Palestinian issue as fundamental and believes that the rights of the Palestinian people cannot be overlooked.
Washington pressed Riyadh this week to condemn Hamas‘s attack, but Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan rejected it, stating that “Gulf states, including those with relations with Israel, are concerned about the possibility of drawing Iran into a conflict that could affect them.”
Saudi Arabia affirmed on Friday its rejection of calls for the “forced displacement” of Palestinians from Gaza and condemned Israel’s continued targeting of “innocent civilians,” in its strongest-worded statements since the outbreak of the war between Hamas and the Israeli state a week ago.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry emphasized its “categorical rejection of calls for the forced displacement of the Palestinian people from Gaza and its condemnation of Israel‘s continued targeting of innocent civilians there.”
Thousands of Palestinians on Friday fled toward southern Gaza after an Israeli army call, which was rejected by Hamas, to evacuate the northern part of the sector ahead of a likely ground operation in response to the deadliest attacks in Israel’s history.
The Saudi statement came as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Riyadh as part of a regional tour that includes six Arab countries.
It appears that US officials have abandoned efforts to urge Gaza residents to seek refuge in the neighboring Egyptian Sinai Peninsula, as the proposal did not gain momentum. Instead, they are turning to the idea of “safe zones” in the besieged sector.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation. which comprises 57 countries and is based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. announced its “absolute rejection” of the displacement of Gaza residents.
In a statement, the organization affirmed its “absolute rejection of calls for the forced displacement of Palestinians and its condemnation of Israel‘s calls. the occupying power. for the forced displacement of the Palestinian people. and attempts to transfer the humanitarian crisis exacerbated by the occupation to neighboring countries.” The organization called on the international community to take urgent action to stop all forms of Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people. which threatens an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe. and stressed the need to provide humanitarian corridors to meet the basic needs of Gaza‘s population.
On Thursday, Egyptian President Abdul Fattah el-Sisi emphasized the need for Gaza‘s residents to “remain steadfast and present on their land.” amid calls for Cairo to allow a safe passage for civilians trapped in the sector.
The war has dealt a blow to the efforts of President Joe Biden’s administration to promote the normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia issued several statements over the past week, reaffirming its support for the Palestinian cause.
On Thursday, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed “the ongoing military escalation in Gaza. and its surroundings” with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in the first call between the two leaders since the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries under China’s sponsorship in March last year.
In its statement on Friday, the Saudi Foreign Ministry reiterated its call on the international community to urgently take action to stop all forms of military escalation against civilians, prevent a humanitarian catastrophe. and provide the necessary relief and medical aid to the people of Gaza. It also called for the lifting of the siege on Gaza and the evacuation of civilian casualties.
In the Grand Mosque in Mecca. Sheikh Usaama bin Abdullah al Khayyat said in his Friday sermon, tears in his eyes, “O God. protect the Muslims in Palestine” and “O God. have mercy on their weakness.”
