Saudi Arabia rejects Israeli statements on Palestinian displacement
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Other Arab and Muslim nations, including Egypt, Jordan, and Qatar, have also condemned Netanyahu's remarks, viewing them as a provocative move that could destabilize the region.
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Vehicles pass in front of a screen advertising Saudi Arabia's state-owned oil company Aramco with Arabic that reads, "promising future", in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Monday, December 9, 2019 (AP)
The Saudi Cabinet has "categorically" rejected Israeli statements regarding the displacement of the Palestinian people, reaffirming its firm stance on the Palestinian cause. The decision was announced following a cabinet session chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, during which ministers discussed regional and international developments.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, the cabinet reaffirmed "the centrality of the Palestinian cause to Saudi Arabia" and stressed that "lasting peace can only be achieved through acceptance of the principle of peaceful coexistence via a two-state solution."
Saudi Arabia's rejection follows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's remarks suggesting that Palestinians could be relocated to Saudi territory as part of a broader regional restructuring. The Saudi Foreign Ministry strongly dismissed this proposal, condemning "Israel" of attempting to conceal "the systemic crimes committed by the Israeli occupation against Palestinians, including ethnic cleansing."
Saudi officials stressed that any forced displacement of Palestinians is unacceptable, warning that such actions violate international law and undermine efforts to achieve regional stability.
#الرياض | برئاسة سمو ولي العهد.. الجانب السياسي من جلسة #مجلس_الوزراء 🇸🇦 pic.twitter.com/yQWZdkUy7y
— وزارة الخارجية 🇸🇦 (@KSAMOFA) February 11, 2025
International backlash
Saudi Arabia is not alone in its criticism. Other Arab and Muslim nations, including Egypt, Jordan, and Qatar, have also condemned Netanyahu's remarks, viewing them as a provocative move that could destabilize the region.
The Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) have both issued statements denouncing any suggestion of forcibly displacing Palestinians.
#OIC Condemns Irresponsible Israeli Statements Towards #SaudiArabia: https://t.co/tjIxPiDg7U pic.twitter.com/unN01e6Ojx
— OIC (@OIC_OCI) February 10, 2025
Saudi officials have repeatedly stressed that a comprehensive and just resolution to the Palestinian issue must be based on international law and established diplomatic frameworks, including the Arab Peace Initiative, which envisions a so-called "two-state" solution as the foundation for peace in the Middle East.
Read more: Saudi normalization plan complicated by Trump's Gaza plan: NYT
Trump pushes for US control over Gaza
Earlier today, US President Donald Trump held a high-profile meeting with Jordan's King Abdullah II at the White House, where he outlined a controversial plan for US control over Gaza.
During the meeting, Trump declared that the United States would take control of Gaza, justifying the move by stating, "Under US authority." He further suggested that Palestinians "will live safely in another location that is not Gaza," hinting at potential displacement to Egypt or Jordan.
The proposal has sparked outrage across the Arab world, prompting Egypt to call for an emergency Arab summit on February 27 to discuss the threat to Palestine's existence.
Jordan's King Abdullah II, who is currently in Washington, reiterated his country's concerns over any forced displacement of Palestinians, stating, "We should wait to see [the] plan from Egypt."
King Abdullah II also announced that Jordan is prepared to accept 2,000 children from Gaza in urgent medical need, while firmly rejecting any attempt to alter the region's demographic balance.
