Saudi Arabia has launched a new global initiative aimed at establishing an independent Palestinian state and advancing the two-state solution.
The announcement follows decades of stalled efforts to resolve the Israel-Palestine conflict, which has led to rising tensions in the region.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan introduced the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution during a high-level meeting attended by representatives from the Arab League, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and Norway. He noted that the initiative is a collaborative effort between Arab and European nations, with the first meeting scheduled to take place in Riyadh.
European Union foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell confirmed that follow-up meetings will be held in Riyadh and Brussels, further emphasizing international support for the plan.
Prince Faisal emphasized Saudi Arabia’s commitment to achieving a “reliable and irreversible plan for just and comprehensive peace,” urging collective action to reach tangible results, including an immediate ceasefire and progress toward a two-state solution.
A statement from the Saudi Embassy in Nigeria on Saturday highlighted that this initiative emerges amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, which intensified after the deadly October 7 attack by Hamas that resulted in nearly 1,200 deaths and numerous hostages. Israel has since launched extensive airstrikes on the Gaza Strip.
Condemning the violence, Prince Faisal criticized Israeli actions in Gaza, the West Bank, and at key Muslim and Christian holy sites, including the Al-Aqsa Mosque. He emphasized that self-defense should not justify mass civilian casualties, forced displacement, or acts of dehumanization.
Saudi Arabia remains firm in its stance that diplomatic relations with Israel are contingent upon the establishment of a Palestinian state along the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reiterated this position, affirming the Kingdom’s unwavering support for Palestinian statehood.
