NEW YORK — Saudi Arabia has reiterated its condemnation of Israel's grave violations against international laws, warning that the absence of accountability encourages further escalation and poses serious risks to regional security. In a speech delivered by Prince Faisal bin Farhan, the Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs, at the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the Kingdom condemned Israel's recent atrocities against civilians in Gaza and highlighted the long-standing suffering of the Palestinian people. Prince Faisal stressed that the recent war crimes committed by Israel against defenseless civilians in Gaza are part of a wider pattern of violent oppression against Palestinians, and that the lack of international accountability has emboldened Israel to continue its aggression. He pointed to the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza as a direct result of systematic bombing, destruction, and starvation tactics. The Kingdom's foreign minister reiterated Saudi Arabia's refusal to accept this harsh reality and emphasized the importance of taking immediate action to end the suffering of Palestinians. He reminded the assembly that Saudi Arabia had convened an emergency joint Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh in November 2023 to call for an end to the bloodshed and the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza without restrictions. In his speech, Prince Faisal also underscored Saudi Arabia's commitment to the two-state solution as the best path forward for achieving lasting peace in the region. He called on all nations to join the Kingdom's newly launched International Alliance to Implement the Two-State Solution, which aims to create a credible and irreversible path to peace. The Kingdom welcomed the UN General Assembly's decision in May 2024 to recognize Palestine as a full member of the United Nations, and praised the recent recognition of Palestine by countries such as Norway, Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, and Armenia. Additionally, Prince Faisal reaffirmed Saudi Arabia's commitment to supporting Palestinian refugees through significant financial contributions. He announced that Saudi Arabia had provided more than $5 billion in aid to the Palestinian people, with nearly $185 million dedicated to the ongoing crisis in Gaza, through King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center. In conclusion, Prince Faisal called for practical steps to achieve a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue, based on international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative, which would enable Palestinians to establish their independent state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. Saudi Arabia also stressed the need for international efforts to stabilize Lebanon, protect its sovereignty, and ensure a diplomatic resolution to the ongoing conflicts in the region.
