Mohammed bin Salman condemns attacks on Lebanon and Iran; Egypt’s Sisi challenges plans for forced displacement of Palestinians and warns the world
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday (11) denounced Israel’s war in Gaza as a “genocide”, making his first such statement as prime minister and de facto ruler of the kingdom.
At a joint Arab League and Organization of the Islamic Conference summit held in Riyadh, the prince and other Arab leaders stepped up their criticism of Israel’s attacks on Gaza and Lebanon, calling for an immediate ceasefire.
“This summit is held as an extension of the previous one, in light of the continued and heinous Israeli aggressions against our brotherly Palestinian people and the extent of the aggressions against the brotherly Republic of Lebanon,” he stated in his keynote address.
“The kingdom reiterates its denunciation of the genocide perpetrated by Israel against the brotherly Palestinian people, which resulted in more than 150,000 martyrs, injuries and disappearances, the majority of whom are women and children.”
The Saudi government has criticized Israel’s attack on Gaza since October 7 last year and supported calls for a ceasefire and two-state solution, despite earlier speculation that the Gulf kingdom and Israel were close to formalizing open relationships.
Mohammed bin Salman recently declared that his government will not do so without establishing a Palestinian state, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
“The kingdom reiterates its denunciation of the genocide perpetrated by Israel against the brotherly Palestinian people”
— Mohammed bin Salman
In his speech, the prince also denounced the “desecration of the Holy Al-Aqsa Mosque” by Israel and the “weakening of the critical role of the Palestinian Authority throughout the Palestinian territory”, stating that such policies only restrict peace in the region.
The crown prince also criticized Israel’s ban on the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, and its attacks on aid agencies in Gaza.
Additionally, he condemned the Israeli war in Lebanon, warning of the “catastrophic consequences” of continued operations in Lebanon and Gaza, while also warning of further attacks against Iran.
“We call on the international community to assume its responsibility to immediately stop aggression against Palestine and Lebanon, obliging Israel to respect the sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran and not to attack its territories,” he said.
‘Systematic murder’
In his speech before the summit, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas called for sanctions on Israel and a halt to settlement expansion “within a year.”
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi avoided describing the war in Gaza as a genocide, but denounced “the systematic murder of civilians in Gaza.”
He also stated that Egypt will not accept any Israeli plan for the forced displacement of Gaza’s population or efforts to make the enclave uninhabitable.
“On behalf of Egypt, I declare that we will stand against all plans that seek to liquidate the Palestinian cause, whether through forced displacement or by making Gaza uninhabitable. We will not accept this under any circumstances,” Sisi said.
Meanwhile, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad called for “an executive plan” from Arab and Islamic leaders to end Israel’s war, “otherwise we would be helping the continuation of the genocide.”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned against Israeli plans to “annihilate the Palestinians”.
He added that Israel’s ban on UNRWA aims to “eliminate a two-state solution and prevent the return of Palestinian refugees to their homeland.”
Erdogan criticized Western nations that provide Israel with “political, economic, military and moral support”, also recognizing “the failure of Muslim countries to respond adequately” to the situation in Gaza.
“We must maintain our coordinated efforts to press for action against those who commit genocide in Palestine,” he said, adding that differences between Muslim nations must not be an obstacle to joint action against Israel.
With information from Middle East Eye*
Source: https://www.ocafezinho.com/2024/11/12/principe-saudita-acusa-israel-de-genocidio-em-gaza/
