Saudi Arabia has suspended discussions regarding the potential normalisation of ties with Israel amidst the ongoing bombardment by Israel in Palestine, resulting in the death of over 2,300 Palestinians.
A source familiar with the discussions informed AFP, “Saudi Arabia has decided to pause discussion on possible normalisation and has informed US officials.”
In the period leading up to the attacks, Saudi Arabia had been acknowledging progress in US-led diplomatic efforts aimed at normalising relations with Israel, a move that would signify a significant milestone for the conservative kingdom, which serves as the guardian of Islam’s two holiest sites.
However, Riyadh has increasingly expressed concern about the plight of Palestinians in Gaza, where Israel has conducted numerous airstrikes and mandated the evacuation of the territory’s northern region, leading to the displacement of thousands.
On Friday, Saudi Arabia condemned the forced displacement of Palestinians within Gaza and the targeting of “defenseless civilians,” using its strongest language to criticise Israel since the beginning of the conflict.
The Saudi foreign ministry stated in a release, “Riyadh affirms its categorical rejection of calls for the forced displacement of the Palestinian people from Gaza, and its condemnation of the continued targeting of defenseless civilians there.”
Meanwhile, authorities in Gaza said Israeli air strikes killed more than 2,300 people, a quarter of them children, with nearly 10,000 wounded so far. Hospitals are running short of supplies and struggling to cope with growing numbers of wounded.
