ANTALYA: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said on Friday that the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza must not be conditioned on a ceasefire, calling for immediate international pressure on Israel to allow aid deliveries.
Speaking at a joint press conference in Antalya after a meeting of the Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee on the Gaza crisis, Prince Faisal emphasized that the humanitarian situation in the enclave was dire and demanded urgent global attention.
“The international community must exert pressure on the Israeli government to allow aid into Gaza. Linking humanitarian aid to a ceasefire is unacceptable,” he said.
The meeting, held to discuss developments in Gaza and push for an immediate and lasting ceasefire, also underscored the need to uphold the rights of the Palestinian people.
Prince Faisal reiterated Saudi Arabia’s rejection of any plans to displace Palestinians, stating such proposals, including those framed as “voluntary departures,” are misleading and coercive.
“We categorically reject any proposal related to the displacement of Palestinians from their land. This applies to all forms of displacement,” he said.
“You cannot speak of voluntary departure while Palestinians in Gaza are being deprived of the most basic necessities of life.”
He added, “If aid is not getting in, if people are unable to find food, water, or electricity, and if they are under constant threat of military bombardment then even if someone is forced to leave, this is not a voluntary departure. This is a form of coercion.”
Prince Faisal also praised the efforts of Egypt and Qatar in facilitating ceasefire talks and stressed the importance of clarity and continued diplomatic engagement.
“We must continue to clarify this reality and work consistently. We hope this message is clear to everyone, especially within the framework of the action plan we agreed upon today in the committee,” he said.
The Saudi foreign minister also condemned Israeli actions in the West Bank, including settlement expansion, home demolitions, and land seizures, describing them as violations of international law.
[Reported by Arab News]
