Saudi Arabia announced on Wednesday that it would not establish diplomatic ties with Israel unless a Palestinian state is created. This statement came in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s remarks on Tuesday, where he claimed that Saudi Arabia was no longer demanding a Palestinian state.
In a surprise declaration, Trump stated that the U.S. would take control of the war-torn Gaza Strip after relocating Palestinians and develop it economically, speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The Saudi foreign ministry issued a statement asserting that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had clearly and unequivocally reaffirmed the kingdom’s stance, leaving no room for interpretation under any circumstances.
Saudi Arabia also condemned any attempts to displace Palestinians from their land, emphasizing that its position on Palestine remains non-negotiable.
During the joint press conference, Netanyahu expressed optimism about the possibility of normalization with Saudi Arabia, stating that Israel would make a strong effort to succeed in this regard.
The U.S. had spent months negotiating with Saudi Arabia to achieve normalization of ties with Israel, but the Gaza war, which erupted in October 2023, derailed these efforts, as Saudi Arabia paused discussions due to widespread Arab anger over Israel’s military actions.
