The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has renewed its demand for urgent international action to end the blockade on Gaza, warning that the humanitarian crisis in the besieged territory has reached catastrophic proportions.
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, speaking at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers in Jeddah, described the suffering of Palestinians as nothing short of “unprecedented genocide.” He accused Israel of employing starvation and systematic denial of humanitarian assistance as weapons of war, pushing Gaza’s population into an abyss of famine, disease, and despair.
Prince Faisal did not mince words in his address, declaring that the international community can no longer look away. “The lives of millions of Palestinians hang in the balance. Breaking the blockade is not just a moral duty—it is an obligation under international law,” he said.
Humanitarian Catastrophe
Since October 2023, Gaza has endured one of the most suffocating blockades in modern history. Food, water, medicine, and fuel remain dangerously scarce, while aid convoys—often numbering in the thousands of trucks—sit immobilized at border crossings. United Nations agencies estimate that at least 700 trucks are needed daily to meet basic needs, yet barely a fraction make it through.
International watchdogs have accused Israel of pursuing a starvation policy. The UN has repeatedly warned that famine is imminent, describing the crisis as man-made and preventable, if only humanitarian access were guaranteed.
For Saudi Arabia, the blockade represents not only a humanitarian outrage but also a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. Prince Faisal said that Saudi Arabia and its allies would continue to press for aid corridors, demanding that UNRWA and other humanitarian organizations be empowered and adequately funded to deliver lifesaving support.
Rejecting Expansionist Policies
The Saudi foreign minister also blasted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s repeated references to a “Greater Israel Vision.” He described such rhetoric as expansionist and destabilizing, pointing to the continued settlement expansion, annexationist policies, and attempts to occupy Gaza City as examples of deliberate provocations.
“These reckless ambitions are not just a threat to Palestinians—they are a direct assault on international norms and a recipe for endless conflict,” Prince Faisal said.
Call For Two-State Solution
Reaffirming Saudi Arabia’s long-standing position, Prince Faisal reiterated suxpport for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. He insisted that the two-state solution remains the only viable path toward a just and lasting peace.
He further noted that more countries across the globe are now recognizing the State of Palestine, and urged those still wavering to “stand on the right side of history.” The growing momentum, he said, reflects a rising global consensus that justice for Palestinians cannot be postponed indefinitely.
Regional and International Backing
The OIC meeting, attended by foreign ministers from across the Muslim world, echoed Saudi Arabia’s concerns. Egypt’s foreign minister demanded urgent pressure on Israel to end its restrictions, noting that thousands of trucks loaded with humanitarian supplies are stalled at the Rafah crossing. The OIC Secretary-General, Hissein Brahim Taha, went further, labeling Israel’s ongoing actions as “genocide, ethnic cleansing, and forced displacement.”
He called for a permanent ceasefire and demanded that Israel be held accountable for crimes against civilians, including the targeted killing of journalists and aid workers.
A Test Of Global Conscience
For Saudi Arabia, the blockade on Gaza is more than a regional crisis—it is a test of global conscience. The Kingdom warned that failure to act decisively will not only prolong Palestinian suffering but also undermine the credibility of the international community, particularly the United Nations Security Council.
As Prince Faisal put it, “History will remember who stood by justice, and who chose silence in the face of oppression.”
The message from Jeddah was unmistakable: Saudi Arabia and its allies are determined to keep Gaza at the center of the world’s attention, pushing for an end to the siege, accountability for those responsible, and a renewed commitment to a two-state solution as the only guarantee of peace in the Middle East.
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