During talks in Moscow, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud emphasized that securing a permanent ceasefire in Gaza remains the kingdom’s immediate focus, explicitly distancing this priority from discussions about normalizing ties with Israel. He described Israel’s recent assault on northern Gaza, marked by a total blockade and relentless bombardment as a "form of genocide" violating international humanitarian law. Riyadh insists any future normalization requires a credible pathway to Palestinian statehood.
President Trump announced a potential breakthrough, revealing that Israel accepted terms for a 60-day ceasefire aimed at ending the war. Hamas’s decision on this “final proposal” was expected within 24 hours. The group seeks guarantees that the deal will permanently halt Israel’s offensive, which has killed over 57,000 Palestinians according to Gaza health authorities. Israeli strikes continued during negotiations, killing dozens just hours before the deadline.
Israel’s military campaign has displaced Gaza’s entire population and triggered a severe hunger crisis. The death toll, largely women and children surpassed 57,000, with accusations of genocide now before international courts. A previous two-month ceasefire collapsed in March when Israeli strikes killed 400 Palestinians in a single day. Trump’s earlier proposal for a UN Gaza takeover was widely condemned as ethnic cleansing.
While Trump met Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman to discuss expanding the Arab-Israeli normalization deals, Saudi officials later clarified that bilateral U.S. agreements on trade and AI are “not tied” to recognizing Israel. Riyadh maintains normalization hinges on Palestinian statehood. Notably, Prince Khalid engaged Iran’s military chief after the White House meeting, a signal of regional diplomacy’s complexity.