Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has condemned Israel for its actions in Gaza, calling them "collective genocide". The remarks were made by the de facto ruler at a summit of Muslim and Arab leaders on Monday, November 11, where the prince also slammed Israeli attacks on Lebanon and Iran.
"The Kingdom reiterates its condemnation and absolute refusal of the collective genocide committed by Israel against the brotherly Palestinian people," he said.
He also demanded that Israel immediately stop its military aggression in Gaza and Lebanon, slamming the country for the "massacre committed against the Lebanese and Palestinian people". Prince Salman urged Israel to "refrain from any further act of aggression", calling out other countries to recognise statehood for Palestine, Al Jazeera reported.
The remarks by the Saudi crown prince in being seen as one of the harshest public criticism of Israel by a Saudi official ever since the war began on October 7, 2023.
Prince Mohammed also warned Israel against launching attacks on Iran, showcasing the improving ties between rivals Riyadh and Tehran after decades of animosity. He was also joined by other leaders "to compel Israel to respect Iran's sovereignity and not to attack (Iranian territories), as he called for a total withdrawl of Israel from Gaza and the West Bank, BBC reported.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia's foreign minister also commented on the ongoing war saying that it was a "failing of the international community" that the Gaza war had not been stopped. He also accused Israel of causing starvation in the region.
"Where the international community primarily has failed is ending the immediate conflict and putting an end to Israel’s aggression," Prince Faisal Bin Farhan Al-Saud said.
Israel has however denied all the charges of committing genocide in Gaza.
The war was triggered after Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, when hundreds of gunmen entered the southern part of the country, killing 1,200 people and taking around 251 others hostage.
In response to this attack, Israel launched a military campaign to destroy Hamas, which caused the death of more than 43,400 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
A report by the UN’s Human Rights Office said that nearly 70% of the victims in Gaza were women and children. Several other leaders at the summit condemned what they called Israel's "continuous attacks" against UN staff and facilities in Gaza, BBC reported.