Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) has accused Israel of committing “collective genocide” in Gaza, marking one of his strongest criticisms since the Israel-Gaza conflict erupted last year.
Speaking at a gathering of Islamic leaders in Riyadh on November 11, MBS stated, “The Kingdom reiterates its condemnation and absolute refusal of the collective genocide committed by Israel against the brotherly Palestinian people.”
In a departure from his earlier rhetoric, MBS also expressed support for Iran, contrasting with his 2017 comparison of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to Adolf Hitler. He called on the international community to “compel Israel to respect Iran’s sovereignty and not to attack Iranian territories.”
Previously, Saudi Arabia had been negotiating a historic normalization agreement with Israel but recently made clear that such discussions would not proceed without a resolution on Palestinian statehood, a demand rejected by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref attended the Riyadh conference and mourned the deaths of leaders from Hezbollah and Hamas, groups which Saudi Arabia opposes.
Despite long-standing regional rivalry, Saudi Arabia and Iran restored diplomatic relations in the past year.
The gathering, which included leaders like Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, aimed to unify positions and apply international pressure to end ongoing attacks and work toward lasting peace in the region.