Saudi FM prioritizes Gaza ceasefire over Israel relations

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud stated that the kingdom's current priority is to achieve a permanent ceasefire in Gaza rather than normalizing ties with Israel. He made this statement during a visit to Moscow. The local health ministry in Gaza reported that over 57,000 Palestinians have died in Israel's recent assault on the region following an attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on October 7. Israel claims that 1,200 individuals were killed in the attack and over 250 were taken hostage into Gaza.

US President Donald Trump mentioned that it would likely be determined within 24 hours whether Hamas has agreed to a proposed ceasefire in Gaza. Trump also discussed with Saudi Arabia the expansion of the Abraham Accords, a deal on normalization of ties between Israel and some Gulf countries. He stated that Israel had accepted the conditions for a 60-day ceasefire with Hamas, aiming to end the conflict.

A source close to Hamas expressed that the group seeks assurances that the new US-backed ceasefire proposal will bring an end to the conflict in Gaza. Israeli officials mentioned that the details are still being negotiated. Dozens of Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Thursday, as reported by Gaza authorities.

The recent violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict began in October 2023 when Hamas attacked Israel, resulting in casualties on both sides. Gaza's health ministry reported that over 56,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's military response. The conflict has led to a humanitarian crisis, displacing Gaza's population and sparking allegations of genocide and war crimes against Israel.

Trump discussed the Abraham Accords and mentioned the potential expansion of the agreement to counter the challenges faced by Iran. Following a meeting with Trump, a Saudi official reportedly spoke with Iran's military chief. Trump's meeting with the Saudi official occurred before the upcoming visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Washington.