The war in Gaza presents a major challenge for Saudi Arabia. The Saudi leadership is trying to placate two different camps: its own population along with the publics of the Arab and Muslim worlds as well as the US administration and influential westerners. The former are horrified by the killings of Palestinians in Gaza whereas the latter want some acknowledgment of Israel’s right to self-defence. This effort to keep everyone happy was on full display over the past weekend at the joint summit of the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation that was held in Riyadh.
At the event, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman (MBS) gave opening remarks that unequivocally condemned Israel’s war on Gaza. But he also denounced the targeting of all civilians and called for the release of all hostages and prisoners – Israelis as well as Palestinians.
Saudi Arabia’s normalisation effort was as much a target of Hamas’s attacks as was the defeat of Israel’s military prowess
MBS argued for the urgency to give the Palestinians their right to self-determination and statehood in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, based on the borders on 1967.
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