Saudi Arabia has strongly rejected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s statements regarding the displacement of Palestinians from their lands. Riyadh reaffirmed that normalization with Israel is impossible without the establishment of a Palestinian state. Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal to place Gaza under American control has further intensified tensions in the region.
Saudi Arabia Condemns Netanyahu’s Remarks
In a statement released by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday, the kingdom categorically rejected Netanyahu’s rhetoric, emphasizing that such remarks are unacceptable. Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the historical and legal rights of the Palestinian people over their land.
A Proposal Rejected by All
During a televised interview last Thursday, Netanyahu responded with a laugh when the host mistakenly referred to a “Saudi state” instead of a Palestinian one. He later suggested that a Palestinian state could be established within Saudi Arabia.
Israeli officials have previously floated the idea of creating a Palestinian state on Saudi land. However, while Saudi Arabia’s latest statement did not explicitly mention this proposal, it clearly dismissed Netanyahu’s position.
Egypt and Jordan also condemned Netanyahu’s remarks. Cairo denounced the proposal as a “direct violation of Saudi sovereignty.” Saudi Arabia welcomed the support of “brotherly nations” in rejecting Netanyahu’s statements, emphasizing that such extremist rhetoric ignores the spiritual, historical, and legal significance of Palestinian lands.
Trump’s Controversial Role
The debate over Gaza’s future took a new turn after Donald Trump’s surprising statement on Tuesday. The former U.S. president suggested that Gaza should be removed from Israeli control and placed under American administration. He envisioned it as the “Riviera of the Middle East,” where displaced Palestinians could be relocated.
Trump also claimed that Saudi Arabia does not demand the establishment of a Palestinian state as a condition for normalizing relations with Israel. However, Riyadh quickly refuted this, reiterating its position that no formal diplomatic ties with Israel would be established without Palestinian statehood.
