Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan expressed on Monday that the Palestinian Authority, with the backing of the international community, has the capacity to govern all Palestinian territories, hinting at the situation post-Gaza war. He stressed that this requires a “genuine path” towards establishing a Palestinian state.
In an interview with “France 24” during the Munich Security Conference, Prince Faisal highlighted that any potential Israeli operations in Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip, are “absolutely unacceptable” and considered that Iran “does not want a broader war in the region.”
Prince Faisal remarked, “We’re facing a humanitarian disaster in Gaza… with an unimaginable level of civilian casualties and destruction, 17,000 orphans, and over 30,000 victims. More importantly, due to the blockade, the levels of hunger and other humanitarian needs intensify this humanitarian catastrophe.”
He added, “From the beginning, we’ve said that we need a ceasefire, and we need it now more than ever… and we must address the issue of humanitarian aid access.”
He noted, “It’s unacceptable for less than 100 trucks to enter Gaza daily… especially when the UN and other humanitarian agencies have stated that at least 500 trucks are needed.
Despite Israel’s repeated commitments to this, it has not been realized, which exacerbates the terrible tragedy and the level of civilian suffering, a clear violation of international humanitarian law.”
Prince Faisal emphasized the “importance of facilitating the access of humanitarian aid and preventing any further suffering of the people of Gaza to maintain the credibility of the international system.”
He stressed that the potential for military operations in Rafah, described as the “last safe haven” for Palestinians, is “absolutely unacceptable.”
The Saudi Foreign Minister explained, “The necessary solution we need to discuss is how to protect civilians in Gaza. This is in the hands of the international community, Israel, and all of us, by allowing and pressuring for the access of humanitarian aid and stopping the fighting.”
He mentioned, “The U.S. administration has its views… and I believe they understand the severity of the situation… and surely, it’s the country that has the capacity to understand the situation more than others, and the level of humanitarian suffering in Gaza is entirely clear.”
He added, “We hope the international community, including the United States, takes a clear stance on the ceasefire and the access of humanitarian aid… We’ve worked with Washington to address this issue, and we’ll continue to do so.
However, it’s crucial for the credibility of the international system to find a way to stop this fighting and secure the necessary relief for civilians in Gaza now.”
Regarding the post-war scenario and Riyadh’s contribution, Prince Faisal stated, “It’s not only Saudi Arabia that’s interested, but all Arab states will discuss this in the context of a broad treatment of the Palestinian issue. If we address this, the question of how to manage Gaza becomes much easier.
I believe the Palestinian Authority will be fully capable of controlling all Palestinian territories with international support, but this requires a genuine path to statehood and hope for the Palestinian people.”
He acknowledged that “the Palestinian Authority recognizes it needs a strong reform process to rebuild or reinvigorate its operations.
It’s up to the Palestinians to decide, but what I would argue is that the Authority has shown its capacity and credibility remarkably when it comes to security issues in the West Bank.”
Prince Faisal highlighted that “the Palestinian Authority has proven its ability to maintain security under the most challenging conditions,” pointing out the “lack of funding due to Israel withholding their due funds, continuous illegal settlement activity, and ongoing provocations by extremist settlers in the West Bank.”
The Saudi Foreign Minister affirmed, “What happens in the sector afterward (the war) is something that needs to be discussed by all parties worldwide. Still, the priority now must be to alleviate the suffering and humanitarian disaster we see now.”
On establishing a Palestinian state, Prince Faisal commented, “I assert there is a Palestinian state; it exists on the ground, and we recognize it. It exists but is restricted because it has not yet defined its borders with Israel, which is, of course, a critical point.”
He added, “It’s very encouraging to hear our partners in the international community unanimously agree that the path to stability and security in the region, and Israel’s security, is the establishment of a Palestinian state.
The fact that European and Western countries, including the United States, are willing to discuss the issue of recognizing Palestine even before negotiating final status issues is a clear signal of the conviction that the Palestinian state is essential, as Palestinians have the right to determine their destiny, which is very positive.”
He noted that his country’s approach has been public and clear, with a recent statement from the Saudi Foreign Ministry stating, “The path toward recognition (of Israel) requires two prerequisites: first, ending the fighting in Gaza and withdrawing all Israeli forces, and second, the path to a Palestinian state.
