Saudi Arabia has stated that it sees no indication of Israel making advancements towards its goals in the Gaza Strip. Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan, speaking at a panel during the World Economic Forum in Davos, emphasised that there are no signs of Israel nearing the achievement of its objectives in Gaza.
He highlighted the kingdom’s priority to seek a path to calm through genuine engagement in the region, stressing the need to focus on de-escalation and achieving a ceasefire in Gaza.
Expressing concern over escalating tensions in the Red Sea and their potential impact on freedom of navigation, Bin Farhan underlined the importance of addressing the situation in Gaza due to its regional implications and the potential to heighten tensions in the Red Sea.
Warning against the ongoing suffering in Gaza, the Saudi Arabia diplomat cautioned that it could lead to perpetuating cycles of violence. Israel’s sustained air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip since October 7, following a cross-border attack by Hamas, have resulted in a significant humanitarian crisis, with thousands of casualties and widespread infrastructure damage.
At least 24,285 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed, and 61,154 have been injured. The United Nations reports that 85% of Gaza’s population is internally displaced, facing acute shortages of food, clean water, and medicine, while 60% of the enclave’s infrastructure is damaged or destroyed.