Saudi Arabia Foreign Minister Faisal Bin Farhan al-Saud said on Friday that the country’s priority is to end the war in Gaza as a first step towards the creation of a Palestinian state
The statement was made during a press conference in Moscow, alongside Russian minister Sergey Lavrov.
What did the minister say?
Faisal al-Saud emphasized that Saudi Arabia seeks an immediate, permanent and sustainable ceasefire in Gaza, which would be the way to establish a Palestinian state.
He also expressed confidence in the “leadership” of US President Donald Trump to resolve the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
Context of standardization with Israel#y#
Prior to Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and led to the host of 251 hostages, triggering the war in Gaza, the normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia seemed to be close.
However, since then, Saudi Arabia insists that any agreement with Israel should include a clear plan for the creation of a Palestinian state, which many right -wing politicians in Israel reject.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly opposed the war in Gaza as part of an agreement to free the remaining 50 hostages.
However, according to Hebrew media, he is working with Trump in a plan that involves the end of the war in Gaza and the resumption of Israel’s commitment to the two -state solution (one for Israel and one for Palestinians) as part of a greater agreement to normalize Saudi Arabia, Syria and other countries, after conflict with Iran.
Secret Meeting with Trump
On Thursday, Trump met secretly at the White House with Saudi Defense Minister Khalid Bin Farhan al-Saud, according to Fox News.
Sources said the meeting discussed the reduction of tensions with Iran, the resumption of nuclear negotiations with the country, the steps for standardization with Israel, a ceasefire agreement and hostage release in Gaza, as well as the search for peace in the Middle East.
The sources reported that there was “progress and optimism” on all topics, and that the US and Saudi Arabia are aligned with their visions.
The Saudi minister also met with US Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, and the US special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, who leads negotiations about Gaza ceasefire and nuclear conversations with Iran.
Other questions raised#y#
Faisal al-Saud also asked the US and Iran to resume nuclear negotiations, suspended due to the recent 12-day war between Israel and Iran, in which Israel attacked the Iranian nuclear program, its military leadership and its missile production.
These conversations should be resumed in Oslo next week.
He also asked Iran to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency, after the country suspending its collaboration with the UN organization, which accused it not to comply with nuclear security agreements.
In addition, Saudi Arabia is planning, along with France, a new date for a conference on the creation of a Palestinian state, which was set to the UN General Assembly in New York, but was postponed because of the conflict with Iran.
What’s next?
Netanyahu should meet Trump at the White House on Monday to continue the discussions.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia maintains its position that peace in Gaza and the way to a Palestinian state are essential conditions for any agreement with Israel.
Published in 07/05/2025 07h45
Text adapted by AI (Grok) and translated via Google API in the English version. Images from public image libraries or credits in the caption.
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