Saudi Arabia has rejected any proposal aimed at evicting Palestinians from their homeland. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan expressed his country’s stance during a ministerial-level meeting held in Antalya, Turkey, on Friday (April 11), focusing on ending the war in Gaza.
He stated that the people of Gaza are being deprived of basic necessities for survival. Nearly a month and a half ago, Israel imposed a complete blockade on Gaza. At that time, the hostage exchange between Hamas and Israel came to an end, and the ceasefire agreement became fragile.
The Saudi foreign minister emphasized that the entry of essential goods into Gaza should not be conditional upon a ceasefire agreement. He called on the international community to ensure the free and unobstructed entry of food and other necessities into Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former U.S. President Donald Trump have previously stated their intentions to relocate the residents of Gaza to another country and turn Gaza into a modern city. Saudi Arabia has firmly rejected this proposal.
Qatar, Egypt, and the United States have been mediating the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Prince Faisal bin Farhan stated that Saudi Arabia trusts these countries and supports their efforts in the mediation process.
The ministers attending the conference issued a joint statement, collectively rejecting any forced eviction of Palestinians from Gaza, East Jerusalem, and the West Bank. They also called for the unification of these three regions under the Palestinian Authority (PA), currently led by President Mahmoud Abbas. While the PA governs the West Bank, Hamas controls Gaza.
The ministers further condemned Israel’s ongoing settlement construction and expansion in the occupied Palestinian territories, labeling it as an act of aggression.