Saudi Arabia Rejects Forced Displacement of Palestinians from Gaza
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, stated on Friday that the kingdom strongly opposes any attempts to forcibly relocate Palestinians from Gaza, regardless of the justification. Speaking at a press conference following the Gaza Contact Group meeting during the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey, he emphasized, “We categorically reject the displacement of the Palestinian people from Gaza under any slogan.”
Prince Faisal condemned the framing of such actions as “voluntary migration,” calling it unacceptable in the context of the current dire conditions in Gaza. He pointed out that the term could not be accepted when Palestinians are deprived of basic necessities.
The remarks came in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal to relocate 2.1 million Palestinians from Gaza and transform the area into a “Riviera.”
The Saudi minister also urged for an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza and stressed the urgent need to allow unimpeded humanitarian aid into the enclave. The Israeli military resumed its offensive in Gaza on March 18, violating the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement made on January 19.
Since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks, over 50,800 Palestinians, mainly women and children, have been killed in Gaza. The ongoing Israeli military campaign has devastated the region, making it nearly uninhabitable.
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes related to the Gaza conflict. Israel is also facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza.
