Saudi Arabia hosts meeting of ‘global alliance’ to push for Palestinian state

Saudi Arabia hosted on Wednesday the first meeting of a new “global alliance” to press for the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan announced the initiative in September to push for the implementation of a two-state solution and work toward a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip where the war between Israel and Hamas has been raging since October 7, 2023.

For more news on Saudi Arabia, visit our dedicated page.

In his opening statement at the event, Prince Faisal urged the attendees to exert all effort in order to reach a two-state solution, saying that issuing condemnations against Israel and proposing partial solutions are no longer viable.

“The escalation that the region is witnessing and the continued Israeli aggression on Palestine and Lebanon, and the expansion of the conflict regionally and potentially global, makes it inevitable for all of us to take a decisive and immediate position to put an end to the crimes and the violations committed by Israel,” Prince Faisal said, while also reiterating the Kingdom’s support of the “vital” role that the UN Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) has been playing.

He cautioned that Israeli practices and the continued aggression undermine the possibility of reaching a two-state solution.

“Now, more than ever, we should intensify our joint efforts to save the two-solution in order to restore security, stability and establish peace in our region.”

Prince Faisal also expressed hope that the alliance’s meetings will contribute toward translating these commitments on the ground and setting a timeline to end the occupation and create a Palestinian state.

Diplomats and representatives from various organizations are attendig the two-day meeting in Riyadh to present a timeline for implementing a two-state solution and propose measures to support peace efforts.

Also on Wednesday, the Saudi foreign ministry proposed a joint Arab-Islamic summit in Saudi Arabia on November 11 to address the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, as well as other regional developments.

Israel has been bombarding Gaza and reduced it to rubble since it began a response to the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, which killed close to 1,200 people. Hamas captured hundreds of hostages, some of which have been killed, and others remain held in Gaza.

The death toll from Israel’s retaliatory air and ground onslaught in Gaza has exceeded 43,000, the Gaza health ministry said on Monday.

Read more:

Israel slams UN expert over ‘eradication’ of Palestinians claim

US working on 60-day truce to end war in Lebanon, sources say

Gaza mediators to propose truce of ‘less than a month’: Source