Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, has called for an end to the war in Gaza during the African-Saudi summit in Riyadh. He condemned the military assault, targeting of civilians, and violations of international law by the Israeli occupation authorities. The crown prince stressed the need to stop the war and the forced displacement of Palestinians.
Palestinian officials reported that Israeli air strikes hit three Gaza hospitals and a school, resulting in the death of at least 27 people. A ground battle was also underway near another hospital. The officials stated that 11,078 Gaza residents, including 40% children, have been killed in air and artillery strikes, with many others wounded. Israel claims that 1,400 people were killed by Hamas in Israel, mostly civilians, and 240 were taken hostage on October 7. Additionally, 39 soldiers have been killed in combat.
Leaders attending the African-Saudi summit issued a joint declaration, emphasizing the need to end military operations in the occupied Palestinian territories and protect civilians. The leaders included the presidents of Nigeria, Kenya, Zambia, Djibouti, and Mauritania, the prime ministers of Ethiopia and Niger, and the foreign minister of Egypt. They called for intensified efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on a two-state solution, with East Jerusalem as the capital of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders.
The leaders also highlighted the importance of the international community’s role in pressuring Israel to halt attacks and forced displacement of Palestinians, which they deemed a violation of international humanitarian and international laws. They called for support to relief organizations, including the United Nations Palestinian refugees agency UNRWA.
In addition to discussing the conflict, the summit focused on economic cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Africa. Saudi Arabia plans to invest approximately $25 billion in Africa by 2030 as part of its Vision 2030 plan. This investment will support various sectors, including tourism, energy, finance, mining, and logistics. Over 50 deals and preliminary agreements were signed during the summit.
Overall, the article highlights Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s call for an end to the war in Gaza, the condemnation of Israeli actions, and the joint declaration by African and Saudi leaders to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and promote economic cooperation.
