Saudi Crown prince holds Israel responsible for Gaza crisis, calls for immediate ceasefire

Riyadh:  Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman of Saudi Arabia delivered a strong rebuke against Israel, holding the country accountable for "crimes committed against Palestinian people" during an extraordinary joint Arab-Islamic summit held in Riyadh on Saturday.

The summit, convened to underscore the urgency of resolving the Gaza conflict, saw Prince Mohammed condemning the ongoing war as a “humanitarian catastrophe”. He criticized both the United Nations Security Council and the international community for their perceived failure to restrain Israeli violations.

Prince Mohammed called for an immediate cessation of military operations, urging the establishment of humanitarian corridors and coordinated efforts with international organizations to provide aid to civilians affected by the conflict. The Crown Prince denounced the continued aggression, occupation, and forced displacement in Gaza, squarely placing responsibility on the occupying authorities for crimes against the Palestinian people.

Reiterating the need to end the occupation, siege, and settlement, Prince Mohammed emphasized the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within the borders of 1967, with East Jerusalem designated as its capital.

The emergency summit was convened in response to the October 7 attacks by Hamas, with Israeli retaliation resulting in a tragic toll of over 11,000 casualties, including numerous civilians. The situation further intensified in Gaza's largest hospital, Al Shifa, with reported power loss in the incubator section and instances of Israeli shelling in the intensive care unit.

Israel's military asserted that Hamas was using Shifa hospital and other medical facilities as command centers, rendering them potential military targets. Hamas vehemently denied these allegations. Growing concerns have emerged regarding the safety of patients, medical staff, and evacuees as Israeli strikes near hospitals continue unabated.