Saudi Arabia’s cabinet has sharply criticized Israel’s decision to expand its military operations in the Gaza Strip, accusing the country of committing “ethnic cleansing” against Palestinians.
During a session in NEOM chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, ministers condemned what they described as the Israeli occupation’s persistence in “crimes of starvation, brutal practices, and ethnic cleansing against the brotherly Palestinian people,” the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The cabinet warned that the international community’s and UN Security Council’s continued inability to halt such attacks “undermines the foundations of the international system, threatens regional and global peace, and risks encouraging genocide and forced displacement.”
Last week, Israel approved a controversial plan to seize control of Gaza City. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the move, saying he had no choice but to “complete the job” by defeating Hamas and securing the release of hostages taken during the October 2023 attacks.
Regional Repercussions
Riyadh’s warning comes as Middle Eastern states recalibrate their positions amid fears that the conflict could spill across borders.
- Egypt has tightened security along the Rafah border crossing, wary of a potential mass influx of Palestinian refugees that could strain its already fragile economy and create long-term demographic challenges. Cairo has also been quietly pressuring Israel to limit ground operations in southern Gaza, warning that further escalation could jeopardize the Egypt-Israel peace treaty framework.
- Qatar, a key mediator in previous hostage exchanges, is attempting to revive stalled negotiations between Israel and Hamas. However, officials in Doha privately concede that prospects for a breakthrough are fading as both sides double down on their objectives—Israel on “destroying Hamas” and Hamas on retaining leverage through hostages.
- Iran has intensified its rhetoric, framing the conflict as part of a broader resistance movement against Israel and the United States. Tehran has signaled continued backing for armed groups in Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq, raising fears that proxy confrontations could erupt into direct conflict if Gaza operations expand.
Global Stakes
For Saudi Arabia, the Gaza crisis is a political and diplomatic stress test. The kingdom has been engaged in careful normalization talks with Israel—brokered by the United States—but the scale of civilian casualties and the displacement of over a million people have made continued dialogue politically untenable at home and across the Arab world.
Western allies, particularly the US and several EU states, remain publicly supportive of Israel’s right to self-defense but are increasingly uneasy about the humanitarian fallout. Washington faces mounting pressure in Congress to condition military aid to Israel, while European capitals are experiencing large-scale pro-Palestinian protests that complicate foreign policy positioning.
Saudi Arabia’s warning also taps into a broader concern among Global South nations that the Gaza war exposes double standards in the application of international law—particularly when compared to swift sanctions and diplomatic isolation imposed on Russia after its invasion of Ukraine.
Looking Ahead
Diplomatic sources say Riyadh is preparing to push for a renewed Arab League initiative that could combine calls for a permanent ceasefire with the revival of a Palestinian statehood track. This would likely be tied to demands for international monitoring of humanitarian corridors and a potential UN-led reconstruction plan for Gaza.
For now, however, the immediate outlook remains grim. Israel’s approval last week of a plan to seize control of Gaza City marks a significant escalation, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisting there is “no choice” but to “complete the job” of defeating Hamas and freeing Israeli hostages. Saudi Arabia and its regional allies fear that “completing the job” could mean the permanent displacement of Gaza’s population—a scenario they are determined to prevent.
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