
Photo by Shealah Craighead
Saudi Arabia has categorically dismissed US President Donald Trump’s suggestion to assume control over Gaza and displace its Palestinian inhabitants. The Kingdom has emphasized that it will not establish normalized relations with Israel unless an independent Palestinian state is created.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry released a statement reaffirming the Kingdom’s steadfast position on the sovereignty of the Palestinian people, in response to remarks made by Trump that implied the permanent removal of Palestinians from Gaza and their resettlement elsewhere.
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia firmly opposes any infringement on the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including efforts to forcibly displace them, annex their land, or perpetuate illegal settlement expansion,” the ministry articulated.
During a joint appearance with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, Trump proposed a US-led initiative aimed at reconstructing Gaza, which he suggested could be transformed into the “Riviera of the Middle East.” He asserted that Palestinians should not return to their homes but rather be relocated to other nations, a proposal that was quickly rejected by leaders in the region.
“I don’t think people should be going back,” Trump remarked. “Gaza is not a place for people to be living.” He recommended that Egypt and Jordan take in the displaced Palestinian population, a suggestion that both nations have categorically dismissed.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has consistently maintained that the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel is contingent upon the establishment of a viable Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem designated as its capital.
During a speech to the Shoura Council on September 18, 2024, the Crown Prince reaffirmed the Kingdom’s dedication to striving “tirelessly” for Palestinian statehood. Furthermore, the Kingdom emphasized that the international community bears a moral and legal responsibility to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people rather than support forced displacement.
The statement underscored that “a just and lasting peace cannot be realized without the Palestinians obtaining their full rights in accordance with international law and United Nations resolutions.” In response to Trump’s comments, there has been widespread global condemnation, with critics accusing him of promoting ethnic cleansing and neglecting Palestinian sovereignty. Palestinian resistance groups have denounced his proposal, cautioning that any efforts to impose foreign governance over Gaza will encounter strong opposition.