JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi held a telephonic conversation regarding the ongoing Feconflict between Israel and Hamas, as reported by Saudi state media early Thursday. This marks their first call since their surprising diplomatic reconciliation in March.
According to the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and President Raisi discussed “the current military situation in Gaza and its surroundings.” The SPA also stated that Prince Mohammed emphasized Riyadh’s commitment to “communicating with all international and regional parties to stop the ongoing escalation.”
Furthermore, the Crown Prince underscored “the kingdom’s firm position towards supporting the Palestinian cause.”
Iranian state news agency IRNA also covered the call, noting that the leaders talked about the “need to end war crimes against Palestine.”
The recent hostilities escalated when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel last Saturday, resulting in Israeli forces reporting around 1,200 casualties, mostly civilians. In Gaza, officials reported over 1,000 deaths due to Israel’s air and artillery strikes.
Amidst the ongoing conflict, concerns have risen over the fate of at least 150 hostages, primarily Israelis but also including foreign and dual nationals, held by Hamas in Gaza.
Analysts suggest that the war has negatively impacted the potential for a landmark normalization deal between Saudi Arabia, home to Islam’s holiest sites, and Israel. This normalization process has been actively pursued by the Biden administration, with Riyadh seeking substantial benefits, including security guarantees and assistance in developing a civilian nuclear program.
In March, Saudi Arabia and Iran announced the restoration of diplomatic ties after a seven-year rupture, facilitated by China. Additionally, on Wednesday, Crown Prince Mohammed spoke with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, expressing his continuous efforts for regional and international coordination to halt the current escalation.
