Israel cannot exist without existence of Palestinian state: Saudi FM

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan has said it is “absolutely necessary” that Israel accepts that it cannot exist without the existence of a Palestinian state.

“Its [Israel] security is served by building a Palestinian state,” he told reporters after attending a meeting in Brussels, Belgium on Sunday.

He attended the meeting of the Ministerial Committee assigned by the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit on Developments in the Gaza Strip.

The committee addressed the urgent need to end the Gaza conflict and take necessary steps toward implementing a two-state solution.

“So, we hope sincerely that the leaders in Israel will realise that it is in their interest to work with the international community not just to strengthen the Palestinian authority but finally establish a Palestinian state along with the 1967 border as everybody understands is the right thing to do,” the Saudi foreign minister said.

The Saudi foreign minister called for building momentum to reinvigorate the two-state solution independent of Israel’s position because Israel does not get to decide whether or not Palestinians have a right to self-determination.

“This is something enshrined in the UN Charter, international law. It is also a founding principle of the United Nations decision.

Prince Farhan called for an immediate ceasefire and the release of hostages. He highlighted that the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate and the additional steps by Israel were not just impacting the population in Gaza, but also in the West Bank.

Israeli strikes since October 7, in response to Hamas attack, has killed 35,903 Palestinians, according to Gaza authorities.

On Monday, Israeli air strikes killed at least 35 Palestinians and wounded dozens in an area in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah designated for the displaced, Palestinian health and civil emergency service officials said.