RIYADH, FEB 5: Saudi Arabia has reaffirmed that it will not establish diplomatic relations with Israel unless a Palestinian state is created, countering claims by US President Donald Trump that the kingdom has dropped such demands.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Saudi foreign ministry underscored Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s “clear and explicit” stance, asserting that the kingdom remains unwavering in its support for Palestinian statehood and strongly rejects any attempt to displace Palestinians from their land.
The statement came a day after Trump made a controversial announcement, declaring that the United States would “take over” Gaza following the resettlement of its Palestinian population and develop it into what he called the “Riviera of the Middle East.”
Speaking at a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump claimed that Saudi Arabia was no longer insisting on a Palestinian state as a condition for normalisation with Israel.
The kingdom’s response directly contradicted Trump’s assertion, emphasizing that its position on the Palestinian cause is “non-negotiable.”
Trump claims US will ‘take over’ Gaza in redevelopment plan
United States President Donald Trump has announced an extraordinary proposal for the US to “take over” and “own” the Gaza Strip, suggesting that his administration will spearhead redevelopment efforts to transform the war-ravaged enclave into “the Riviera of the Middle East.”
Speaking at the White House alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, Trump stated that his administration would lead an economic reconstruction initiative to “supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for the people of the area.”
“The US will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it too. We’ll own it,” Trump said, adding that his plan involved clearing debris, dismantling unexploded ordnance, and laying the foundation for large-scale investment.
The announcement marks a dramatic departure from longstanding US policy on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and has drawn swift condemnation from Palestinian leaders and human rights advocates.
