Israel-Hamas war: Saudi Arabia demands international intervention to end Middle East violence

Saudi Arabia has strongly criticised Israel's call for Palestinians to leave Gaza and condemned the ongoing targeting of unarmed civilians. 

The condemnation came after the Israeli military warned over one million Gaza City residents to relocate south within 24 hours in anticipation of a ground invasion, with tanks amassing near the Gaza Strip.

In a statement from the Foreign Ministry, Saudi Arabia vehemently rejected any forced displacement of the Palestinian people from Gaza and expressed its condemnation of the continuous attacks on defenceless civilians. 

The kingdom called upon the international community to take swift action to halt any military escalation against civilians and prevent a humanitarian catastrophe.

The statement stressed the necessity of providing essential relief and medical assistance to the people of Gaza, emphasising that depriving them of the basic necessities for a decent life constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law. Saudi Arabia warned that failing to do so would exacerbate the crisis and intensify the suffering of the region's people.

Furthermore, Saudi Arabia called for the immediate lifting of the Israeli blockade on Gaza, the evacuation of injured civilians, and the advancement of the peace process between Palestinians and Israelis in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative (API). The API outlines the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 border, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Saudi Arabia on Friday slammed Israel’s call for Palestinians to leave Gaza and condemned the continued targeting of “defenceless civilians.”

The Israeli military warned all civilians of Gaza City, more than 1 million people, to relocate south within 24 hours, as it amassed tanks near the Gaza Strip ahead of an expected ground invasion.

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia affirms its categorical rejection of calls for the forced displacement of the Palestinian people from Gaza, and its condemnation of the continued targeting of defenceless civilians there,” a statement from the Foreign Ministry said.

Saudi Arabia called on the international community to swiftly move to stop all military escalation against civilians and prevent a humanitarian catastrophe.

“[The international community] must provide the needed relief and medical needs for the people of Gaza, especially since deprivation of basic necessities for a decent life violates international humanitarian law,” the statement said.

Riyadh also warned that not doing so would exacerbate the crisis and suffering that the region's people were suffering.

Saudi Arabia called for ending the Israeli siege on Gaza, evacuating injured civilians and advancing the peace process between Palestinians and Israelis in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative. The API stipulates establishing an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 border with its capital as East Jerusalem.