RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman received a telephone call from French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday and held discussions on the dire situation in Palestine.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry, in a statement on Wednesday, said that during the call, both leaders reviewed regional developments, including the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories and efforts to end the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
“They reviewed existing areas of cooperation in several fields and discussed opportunities to strengthen them,” it said.
🇸🇦📞🇫🇷 | HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received a phone call from French President @EmmanuelMacron. pic.twitter.com/ws3LQXfpc8
— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) September 3, 2025
The Crown Prince reaffirmed the Kingdom’s position, calling for an immediate end to the war in Gaza.
He stressed the necessity of achieving a just, secure, and comprehensive peace in the Middle East, while condemning any measures that would undermine the two-state solution.
Saudi Arabia and France have taken the lead in an initiative to push for the recognition of a Palestinian state.
In July, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France would officially recognise Palestine during the upcoming UN General Assembly later this month, making it the first G7 nation to make such a commitment.
Last month, Saudi Arabia and France co-hosted a major conference aimed at rallying global support for recognising Palestinian statehood as essential for achieving lasting peace in the Middle East.
Several countries — including Australia, Belgium, Canada, Malta, Portugal, and the United Kingdom — have pledged to formally recognise Palestine this month.
In response, Israel has threatened to seize control of Gaza City and annex parts of the West Bank if Western governments proceed with recognition efforts.
“No offensive, annexation attempt, or forced displacement will stop this momentum,” French President Emmanuel Macron posted on X following a call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
According to the Gaza health ministry, more than 63,000 people — the majority of them civilians — have been killed in Gaza. Reports also accuse Israel of using starvation as a weapon of war against the population.
