Saudi crown prince condemns Israeli attacks on Gaza, Lebanon

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Updated 11 November 2024
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Saudi crown prince condemns Israeli attacks on Gaza, Lebanon

Saudi crown prince condemns Israeli attacks on Gaza, Lebanon
  • Speaking at extraordinary Arab and Islamic summit in Riyadh, he denounces Israel’s campaign in Gaza as ‘genocide’
  • He also condemns obstruction of aid efforts in Gaza and rejects any diminishing of the role of the Palestinian Authority

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday renewed the Kingdom’s objections to Israeli attacks in Gaza and violations of Lebanon’s sovereignty.

In his opening statement at an extraordinary Arab and Islamic summit, hosted by Riyadh, he denounced the obstruction of aid efforts by humanitarian agencies in Gaza and rejected any diminishing of the role of the Palestinian Authority.

“The Kingdom condemns the obstruction of the relief efforts of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East in Palestinian territories, as well as the obstruction of the work of humanitarian organizations providing aid to the Palestinian people,” the crown prince said.

Israel formally notified the UN last week of its decision to sever ties with UNRWA after Israeli politicians voted in favor of the move on Oct. 28.

The international community must “immediately halt the Israeli actions against our brothers in Palestine and Lebanon”, the crown prince said, describing Israel’s campaign in Gaza as “genocide.”

He continued: “We condemn the Israeli military operations that have targeted Lebanese territories and we reject anything that threatens Lebanon’s stability and safety as well as anything that violates its territorial integrity.

“Israel’s continued criminal actions against innocent people, its violation of the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque, and its undermining of the Palestinian Authority’s pivotal role in all Palestinian territories will hinder efforts to secure the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and establish regional peace.”

The crown prince also condemned attacks against Iran, saying that the international community should put pressure on Israel to respect “the sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran” and cease all hostile actions against its territories.

He said “we stand with our brothers in Palestine and Lebanon,” and reiterated that Palestine qualifies for full membership in the UN, as he stressed the necessity of establishing a Palestinian state.

“We launched a global initiative to support the two-state solution,” he added, referring to a call by Saudi authorities for more peace-loving countries to formally recognize a Palestinian state, through the UN General Assembly.

 

The crown prince praised the successful joint efforts by countries represented at the meeting to encourage nine additional nations to recognize the State of Palestine since Oct. 7, 2023, including Spain, Ireland, Norway, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and the Bahamas. This is reflected in UN General Assembly resolutions affirming Palestine’s eligibility for full membership of the organization and demanding an end to Israel’s unlawful occupation of Palestinian territories, he said.

“In this spirit, we affirm the importance of continuing our joint efforts to establish a Palestinian state, within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital,” the crown prince added.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the summit that Israel’s goal is to establish settlements in the Gaza Strip and annex the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

“So far, 50,000 Palestinians have been martyred, 70 percent of whom were children and women, in massacres carried out by Israel in Gaza and other Palestinian territories,” he said.

“It is extremely important that we continue our coordinated efforts to take coercive measures against those committing acts of genocide in Palestine, based on international law and the UN Charter. We cannot allow differences in opinion and positions among us to hinder our common cause.”

Erdogan also said that as many countries as possible must support South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice over its actions in Gaza.

In his statement to the summit, Hissein Brahim Taha, secretary-general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, stressed the need to fully implement UN Security Council Resolution 2735, adopted on June 10 this year, which calls for a ceasefire agreement, the sufficient and sustainable delivery of humanitarian aid throughout Gaza, the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces, and efforts to enable the Palestinian government to fulfill its responsibilities in Gaza.

Echoing the Saudi crown prince’s remarks, Taha reiterated the need for a two-state solution that includes an independent Palestinian state, and its right to full membership of the UN. He also called for an immediate and total ceasefire in Lebanon in line with UN Security Council resolutions.

The secretary-general of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, said the actions of Israeli authorities reflect their plans to destroy Palestinian society in Gaza, displace its people and deconstruct an entire community and its social fabric, deliberately destroying any possibility of restoration and killing any hopes for an independent Palestinian state.

In doing so, he told the summit, Israel is crippling efforts to achieve a future of coexistence and peace in the region. He added that a lack of accountability has encouraged Israeli authorities to proceed with their unimaginable plans, but the summit sends a message that the world cannot continue to ignore the relentless violence.

Many Arab and Islamic leaders traveled to Riyadh on Monday for the summit. They included Erdogan; Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, vice president of the UAE, deputy prime minister and chairperson of the Presidential Court; Shavkat Mirziyoyev, president of Uzbekistan; Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, president of Sudan’s Transitional Sovereign Council; Bashar Assad, president of Syria; Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, prime minister of Iraq; Sheikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al-Khalifa, deputy prime minister of Bahrain; and Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, president of Egypt.

They were joined by King Abdullah of Jordan; Qatar’s ruler, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani; Kuwait’s Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah; Iran’s first vice president, Mohammad Reza Aref; Oman’s foreign minister, Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi; and Bakary Yaou Sangare, Niger’s minister for foreign affairs.

The Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, arrived in the Kingdom on Sunday, as did the Lebanese prime minister, Najib Mikati; Algeria’s foreign minister, Ahmed Attaf; the foreign minister of Guinea, Morissanda Kouyate; the president of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Faye; Chad’s president, Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno; the president of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon; Nigeria’s president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu; and Uganda’s third deputy prime minister Lukia Isanga Nakadama. The president of Mauritania, Mohammed Ould Ghazouani, also arrived on Sunday, after performing Umrah and praying at the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah on Saturday.


Saudi Cabinet rejects displacement of Palestinians, backs Arab summit’s Gaza plan

Saudi Cabinet rejects displacement of Palestinians, backs Arab summit’s Gaza plan
Updated 24 sec ago
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Saudi Cabinet rejects displacement of Palestinians, backs Arab summit’s Gaza plan

Saudi Cabinet rejects displacement of Palestinians, backs Arab summit’s Gaza plan

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet on Tuesday affirmed full support for the decisions of the extraordinary Arab League summit in Cairo that rejected the displacement of Palestinians from their land, and aimed to end the disastrous repercussions resulting from the war.

It reiterated the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and to obtain their legitimate rights, including their right to establish their independent state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The final statement adopted by the summit called for the deployment of an international protection and peacekeeping force in the Palestinian territories.

It adopted the plan submitted by Egypt with regard to Gaza, in full coordination with Palestine and Arab countries.

It also emphasized the achievement of a just and comprehensive peace that fulfills the rights of the Palestinian people.

During the weekly Cabinet session chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, ministers condemned Israel’s decision to stop the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, calling on the international community to assume its responsibilities towards these serious violations, activate international accountability mechanisms, and ensure sustainable access to aid.

The Cabinet tackled the joint statement issued after President Joseph Aoun’s visit to Riyadh regarding the importance of fully implementing the Taif Agreement, which ended Lebanon’s civil war and was negotiated in Saudi Arabia in 1989, and relevant international resolutions.

The joint statement also stressed the importance of ensuring Lebanon’s sovereignty over all its territories, restricting weapons to the Lebanese state, supporting the Lebanese army’s national role, and calling for the withdrawal of the Israeli occupation forces from all Lebanese territories.

Aoun was welcomed at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh on Monday, where discussions with the crown prince focused on strengthening bilateral relations.

During their talks, both leaders agreed to study obstacles affecting the resumption of exports from Lebanon to Saudi Arabia and procedures to facilitate Saudi travel to Lebanon. They also reaffirmed their commitment to Lebanon’s economic recovery and the implementation of reforms aligned with international standards.

In a diffident matter, the Cabinet affirmed the state’s continued support for the social services system and national initiatives that aim to provide adequate housing for qualifying families, praising in this regard the cooperation and integration of roles between government, private and non-profit entities, in addition to community members, to achieve the goals of the Jood Regions campaign.

The Jood Regions campaign was first launched during Ramadan 2024 to provide more than 10,000 housing units for the most needy families across the Kingdom’s 13 provinces.

King Salman and the crown prince have donated a total of SR150 million ($40 million) to the second Jood Regions campaign, launched at the start of this year’s Ramadan.

The Cabinet reviewed the progress of major development and service projects that aim to enhance the comprehensive development process in the Kingdom.

The ministers offered congratulation on the opening of the first phase of Sports Boulevard project in Riyadh, which will contribute to consolidating the position of the city among the best global cities.

The project, led by the Sports Boulevard Foundation, is now 40 percent complete, with 83 km of the route being accessible to visitors since Feb. 27.

The initiative, launched by King Salman in March 2019, aligns with the country’s Quality-of-Life Program, outlined in Saudi Vision 2030, by creating greener, more sustainable cities that encourage participation in activities like walking, cycling, and horse riding. It also aims to transform Riyadh into one of the world’s most livable cities by blending sports with cultural, artistic, and environmental opportunities.


Hands-on faith: henna tradition inspires first-time fasters in Saudi Arabia’s Northern Borders region

Families gather to decorate their daughters’ hands with henna, encouraging fasting while making it fun and memorable. (SPA)
Families gather to decorate their daughters’ hands with henna, encouraging fasting while making it fun and memorable. (SPA)
Updated 04 March 2025
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Hands-on faith: henna tradition inspires first-time fasters in Saudi Arabia’s Northern Borders region

Families gather to decorate their daughters’ hands with henna, encouraging fasting while making it fun and memorable. (SPA)
  • These cherished customs are integral to the cultural and social identity of the people in the Northern Borders region

RIYADH: In Saudi Arabia’s Northern Borders region, the holy month of Ramadan brings a surge of traditions, including henna painting for young girls fasting for the first time.

Saudi Press Agency reports that families gather to decorate their daughters’ hands with henna, encouraging fasting while making it fun and memorable.

Families gather to decorate their daughters’ hands with henna, encouraging fasting while making it fun and memorable. (SPA)

The festive designs, which are tied to joy and celebration, boost the girls’ enthusiasm and pride as they showcase their decorated hands, strengthening Ramadan’s spirit.

Wejdan Al-Anzi, a resident of Arar, told SPA: “For years, we have made it a tradition to apply henna on our daughters’ hands when they begin fasting.

Families gather to decorate their daughters’ hands with henna, encouraging fasting while making it fun and memorable. (SPA)

“It is a delightful custom that helps children feel connected to the Ramadan spirit shared by the adults around them.”

Afaf Al-Thuwaini also highlighted that this tradition extends beyond mere aesthetics; it cultivates essential religious and social values in children, helping them connect fasting with an atmosphere of joy and celebration.

These cherished customs are integral to the cultural and social identity of the people in the Northern Borders region.

These simple yet meaningful traditions foster a deep appreciation for devotion in children, playing a significant role in shaping their religious and social character.

 


Saudi deputy minister receives Iraqi ambassador

Saudi deputy minister receives Iraqi ambassador
Updated 04 March 2025
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Saudi deputy minister receives Iraqi ambassador

Saudi deputy minister receives Iraqi ambassador
  • They discussed bilateral relations and other topics of common interest

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister for Political Affairs Saud Al-Sati received Ambassador of Iraq to the Kingdom Safia Taleb Al-Suhail in Riyadh on Tuesday.

During the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations and other topics of common interest, the Foreign Ministry posted on X.

In a separate meeting on Tuesday, Al-Sati received Nodirjon Turgunov, ambassador of Uzbekistan to Saudi Arabia, to discuss issues of mutual interest.


We categorically reject any violation of the rights of the Palestinian people: Saudi FM

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan speaks at the extraordinary Arab League summit on Gaza. (SPA)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan speaks at the extraordinary Arab League summit on Gaza. (SPA)
Updated 04 March 2025
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We categorically reject any violation of the rights of the Palestinian people: Saudi FM

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan speaks at the extraordinary Arab League summit on Gaza. (SPA)
  • Prince Faisal said the Kingdom supported the two-state solution and the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia categorically rejects any infringement on the rights of the Palestinian people, the Kingdom’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said on Tuesday.

During a speech that he delivered at an extraordinary Arab League summit in Cairo on countering US President Donald Trump’s widely condemned plan for Gaza, Prince Faisal stressed the rejection of Israeli settlements and attempts to displace Palestinians.
“We stress the need for international guarantees and UN resolutions that impose the sustainability of the truce in the Gaza Strip,” Prince Faisal told the gathering of Arab leaders.

He added that the Kingdom supported the two-state solution and the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination.

The reconstruction of Gaza must be carried out while its people remain in the territory and the Kingdom supports measures taken by the Palestinian Authority to ensure security and stability, Prince Faisal added.

“The unprecedented suffering that the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip have been subjected to requires the international community to work together to restore life to normal in the territory, rebuild it, and enable the Palestinian people to live in dignity on their land without trying to change the reality in Palestinian territories.

“We hope that this summit will contribute to achieving tangible results to end the disastrous repercussions of this war, protect innocent civilians in Palestine, and create a new reality in which the region enjoys security, stability, and prosperity,” the minister said. 

The final statement adopted by the summit called for the deployment of an international protection and peacekeeping force in the Palestinian territories. 

It condemned the recent Israeli decision to stop the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip and close the crossings used for relief work.

It adopted the plan submitted by Egypt with regard to Gaza, in full coordination with Palestine and Arab countries.

It also emphasized the achievement of a just and comprehensive peace that fulfils the rights of the Palestinian people.


Restoration of Qalaa Mosque in Madinah enhances Saudi Arabia’s Islamic heritage

Restoration of Qalaa Mosque in Madinah enhances Saudi Arabia’s Islamic heritage
Updated 04 March 2025
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Restoration of Qalaa Mosque in Madinah enhances Saudi Arabia’s Islamic heritage

Restoration of Qalaa Mosque in Madinah enhances Saudi Arabia’s Islamic heritage
  • Expansion under the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Project for the Development of Historic Mosques 

Riyadh: The historic Qalaa Mosque in the town of Al-Hinakiyah, northeast of Madinah, is among the places of worship undergoing restoration as part of a national project.

The second phase of the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Project for the Development of Historic Mosques focuses on preserving the building, which is over a century old, in Madinah’s historical architectural style, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.

The initiative aims to enhance the Islamic heritage of the Kingdom as the land where the Qur’an was revealed, and the location of the Two Holy Mosques. 

The project will expand the mosque’s area from 181 sq. meters to 263 sq. meters to accommodate 171 worshippers. The mosque was previously unused, the SPA added.

The renovation will include the use of natural materials including clay and local wood, to ensure the mosque returns to its original form. 

It will preserve the unique building techniques that are adapted to the local environment and hot desert climate.

The crown prince’s project aims to balance traditional and modern construction standards to ensure the sustainability of historic mosques, the SPA reported.

Saudi Arabia companies and engineers specializing in heritage restoration are leading the work.

Phase two of the crown prince’s project follows the successful completion of phase one in 2018, which restored 30 mosques in 10 regions across the Kingdom.