No ties with Israel without Palestinian state: Riyadh

Saudi Arabia also rejects any attempts to displace the Palestinians from their land, the kingdom's foreign ministry says

FE Team | Published: February 06, 2025 00:13:52

People walk amid collapsed buildings along Saftawi street in Jabalia in northern Gaza Strip on Wednesday — AFP

RIYADH, Feb 05 (Reuters/AFP): Saudi Arabia said on Wednesday it would not establish ties with Israel without the creation of a Palestinian state - a statement that comes after US President Donald Trump said that the Saudis were not demanding a Palestinian state.
In a shock announcement, Trump said on Tuesday the US would take over the war-ravaged Gaza Strip after Palestinians are resettled elsewhere and develop it economically. He was speaking at a joint press conference with visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The statement from the Saudi foreign ministry said Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has affirmed the kingdom's position in "a clear and explicit manner" that does not allow for any interpretation under any circumstances.
China opposes 'forced
transfer' of Gazans
China on Wednesday said it was opposed to the "forced transfer" of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip after US President Donald Trump said he planned to "take control" of the territory.
"China has always maintained that Palestinian rule over Palestinians is the basic principle of the post-war governance of Gaza, and we are opposed to the forced transfer of the residents of Gaza," foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said when asked about Trump's plan at a regular press conference.
Trump plan to take over
Gaza will pour 'oil
on the fire': Hamas
Palestinian militant group Hamas on Wednesday condemned a proposal by US President Donald Trump to "take over" and "own" Gaza, saying it will fan the flames of Middle East violence.
Hamas said that the proposal "aiming for the United States to occupy the Gaza Strip" was "aggressive to our people and cause, won't serve stability in the region and will only put oil on the fire".
"Our Palestinian people... will not allow any state in the world to occupy our land or impose guardianship on our great Palestinian people who have offered rivers of blood to liberate our land from occupation and to establish our state with Jerusalem as its capital," it said in a statement.
Earlier, Hamas spokesman Abdel Latif al-Qanou, characterised Trump's plan as a "racist stance", aligned "with the Israeli extreme right's position".