Saudi Arabia rejects Trump’s Gaza plan, reaffirms stance on Palestinian state

Saudi Arabia has firmly rejected US President Donald Trump’s proposal to take over Gaza and displace its Palestinian population, reiterating that the Kingdom will not normalise ties with Israel without the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry issued a statement emphasising the Kingdom’s unwavering stance on Palestinian sovereignty, following Trump’s remarks suggesting that Palestinians should be permanently removed from Gaza and resettled elsewhere.

"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia categorically rejects any violation of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including attempts to forcibly displace them, annex Palestinian land, or continue illegal settlement expansion," the ministry said.

Trump, speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, proposed a US-led reconstruction effort in Gaza, which he claimed could transform the war-ravaged enclave into the "Riviera of the Middle East."

He insisted that Palestinians should not return to their homes and instead be resettled in other countries, a plan swiftly dismissed by regional leaders.

"I don’t think people should be going back," Trump stated. "Gaza is not a place for people to be living." He suggested that Egypt and Jordan absorb the displaced Palestinian population, an idea both countries have outright rejected.

Earlier, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has consistently asserted that any Saudi-Israeli normalization hinges on the creation of a viable Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

In a speech before the Shoura Council on September 18, 2024, the crown prince reiterated the Kingdom’s commitment to working "tirelessly" toward Palestinian statehood.

The Kingdom also stressed that the international community has a moral and legal obligation to alleviate Palestinian suffering rather than endorse forced displacement.

"A just and lasting peace cannot be achieved without Palestinians securing their full rights in line with international law and UN resolutions," the statement added.

Trump’s remarks have sparked global outrage, with critics accusing him of advocating ethnic cleansing and disregarding Palestinian sovereignty.

Palestinian resistance groups have condemned his proposal, warning that any attempt to impose foreign rule over Gaza will be met with firm resistance.