Saudi Arabia slams Israeli ground operation in Gaza, calls for immediate truce

ISTANBUL (AA) - Saudi Arabia on Saturday condemned the Israeli ground operations in the Gaza Strip, urging the international community to secure an immediate cease-fire in the besieged enclave.

In a statement, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said that it condemns "any ground military operation conducted by Israel in the Gaza Strip due to its threat to the lives of Palestinian civilians."

The ministry urged the international community to assume its responsibilities to secure an immediate cease-fire based on the UN resolution adopted on Friday.

The UN General Assembly late Friday approved a resolution calling for a humanitarian truce, but Israel's Foreign Minister Eli Cohen called it “despicable” and rejected it. The non-binding resolution received 120 votes in favor, 14 against, and 45 abstentions from UN members.

On Friday night, Israel announced the start of the ground operation in the Gaza Strip, under bombardment described as the heaviest in the full course of the Israeli offensive on Gaza, which enters its third week.

Gaza is reeling from relentless airstrikes since the surprise offensive by Hamas on Oct. 7.

Israel responded with an uninterrupted campaign of air raids, which intensified Friday night along with ground operations amid a complete blackout of telecommunications and internet networks.

At least 7,703 Palestinians, including 3,595 children, have been killed in the Israeli attacks, while 1,400 people were killed in the Hamas attack on Israel.

Gaza's 2.3 million residents are also grappling with shortages of food, water, and medicine due to Israel’s blockade of the enclave. Only a few aid trucks have crossed into Gaza since the opening of the Rafah crossing point last weekend.