Saudi Crown Prince Condemns Israel’s Actions in Gaza as “Collective Genocide” at Summit of Islamic Nations in Riyadh
In one of his most forceful statements on the Gaza conflict, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) accused Israel of “collective genocide” against Palestinians during a major summit of Islamic leaders in Riyadh. The Crown Prince’s remarks came amid intensifying regional tensions and showcased Saudi Arabia’s shifting diplomatic stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Hosting Islamic leaders on Monday, the Saudi de facto leader underscored the Kingdom’s stance, condemning what he called Israel’s “collective genocide” against Palestinians. “The Kingdom reiterates its condemnation and absolute refusal of the collective genocide committed by Israel against the brotherly Palestinian people,” he declared.
The high-level meeting was convened with the stated goal of unifying regional positions and pressuring the international community to take action toward ending the conflict and establishing a lasting peace, CNN.
Crown Prince Mohammed’s speech also marked a notable shift in Saudi Arabia’s approach toward Iran. While he has previously been highly critical of Iran’s leadership, comparing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to Adolf Hitler in 2017, his latest comments expressed support for Iran’s sovereignty.
MBS called on the international community to “compel Israel to respect Iran’s sovereignty and not to attack (Iranian) territories.” This shift reflects a recent thaw in Saudi-Iranian relations, following decades of rivalry over regional influence. In 2022, Riyadh and Tehran took steps to rebuild diplomatic ties, facilitated by diplomatic efforts from China and other regional actors.
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The Riyadh summit also provided a platform for key figures across the region to voice their perspectives on the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian crisis. Iranian Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref attended, mourning prominent figures linked to Iran-aligned groups, including Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah and senior Hamas leaders.
This acknowledgment came despite Saudi Arabia’s continued opposition to groups like Hezbollah and Hamas, which the Kingdom considers destabilizing forces backed by Iran.
The conference highlighted Saudi Arabia’s recently strengthened political support for Palestinians, a shift that diverges from prior negotiations with Israel. In 2022, Saudi Arabia had been negotiating a historic normalization agreement with Israel.
However, MBS and other Saudi officials have since made it clear that such a deal is now “off the table” without Palestinian statehood, a condition rejected by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was also in attendance, as were Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati. Also present were Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who continue to confront their own political and military tensions, particularly over Turkey’s military operations in northern Syria and its support for rebel groups.
The Saudi government characterized the summit as an essential step toward “unifying positions” on the Israeli-Palestinian crisis and increasing diplomatic pressure on the international community to halt hostilities and foster peace in the region.
The Kingdom’s state media agency released a statement noting that the summit sought to “exert pressure” on world leaders to take concrete actions toward ending the “ongoing attacks and establishing lasting peace” across the Middle East.
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As Saudi Arabia recalibrates its regional alliances, balancing its stance on Palestinian statehood and renewing diplomatic ties with Iran, the Kingdom’s role in Middle Eastern diplomacy appears to be evolving in response to growing geopolitical pressures.
This Riyadh summit underscores a key moment in Saudi diplomacy, as the Kingdom seeks to lead a unified regional front in calling for international intervention to de-escalate the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and support a sustainable path toward peace.