RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman on Saturday met with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on the sidelines of the extraordinary joint Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
The Crown Prince also separately met with Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, SPA reported.
Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, deputizing for Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, on Saturday chaired and inaugurated the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
In his opening speech, the Crown Prince addressed the urgent and painful circumstances surrounding the ongoing crisis in Palestine.
The Crown Prince began by extending a warm welcome to the attendees, conveying the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ wishes for a successful summit. He highlighted the extraordinary and painful circumstances that have prompted the convening of the summit. He affirmed the Kingdom’s condemnation and rejection of the ongoing ruthless war in Gaza.
Saudi Crown Prince Affirms Condemnation and Rejection of Ruthless War in Gaza
The Crown Prince expressed deep concern over the ruthless war in Gaza, which has resulted in the loss of thousands of unarmed civilians, including children, women, and the elderly. He denounced the destruction of hospitals, places of worship, and infrastructure, emphasizing that the Kingdom has been actively working to protect civilians in the Gaza Strip. The Crown Prince revealed continuous consultations and coordination with international partners to bring about an immediate halt to the conflict.
“We reiterate our demands for an immediate halt to military operations, the provision of humanitarian corridors for aiding civilians, and enabling international humanitarian organizations to fulfill their role,” stated the Crown Prince.
Highlighting the severity of the humanitarian catastrophe, the Crown Prince criticized the failure of the United Nations Security Council and the international community to curb Israeli violations of international laws and humanitarian norms. He underscored the urgent need for coordinated efforts and effective action to confront this unfortunate situation, emphasizing that the Kingdom categorically rejects the continued aggression, occupation, and forced displacement of the population of Gaza.
HRH the Crown Prince met with President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, on the sidelines of the Joint Arab Islamic Extraordinary Summit. pic.twitter.com/qYTdQsO3ET
— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) November 11, 2023
“The Kingdom categorically rejects the continued aggression, occupation and forced displacement of the population of Gaza. It also firmly holds the occupation authorities responsible for the crimes committed against the Palestinian people and their infrastructure,” the Crown Prince said.
The Crown Prince called for concerted efforts to lift the siege, provide humanitarian and relief aid, and secure medical supplies for the sick and injured in Gaza. He firmly held the occupation authorities responsible for the crimes committed against the Palestinian people and their infrastructure, asserting that the only path to security, peace, and stability in the region is by ending the occupation, siege, and settlements.
The Crown Prince concluded by affirming that the Kingdom stands unwavering in its commitment to the Palestinian cause and reiterated the call for establishing an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. The two-pronged approach, he stressed, would guarantee security and stability in the region.
