Saudi foreign minister, Palestinian premier discuss Rafah

By Mohammed Al Ragawi

RIYADH (AA) - Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah on Thursday held a meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa in Riyadh and discussed the latest situation in the Gaza Strip, particularly in the city of Rafah.

“The two sides discussed strengthening cooperation relations between the two countries, and the latest developments in Palestine, especially developments in the Gaza Strip and the city of Rafah, in addition to the Palestinian government’s priorities and work program,” the Saudi Press Agency said.

Hamas said on Monday evening that it had accepted a Gaza cease-fire proposal drawn by Egypt and Qatar.

But Israel said the truce offer accepted by Hamas did not meet its key demands and decided to push ahead with an operation in Rafah in order to apply what it said "military pressure on Hamas with the goal of making progress on freeing the hostages and the other war aims.”

Israel has pounded the Gaza Strip in retaliation for Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Hamas which killed about 1,200 people. More than 34,900 Palestinians have since been killed in Gaza, the vast majority of whom have been women and children, and 78,500 others injured, according to Palestinian health authorities.

Over seven months into the Israeli war, vast swathes of Gaza lay in ruins, pushing 85% of the enclave’s population into internal displacement amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water, and medicine, according to the UN.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January said it is "plausible" that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza and ordered Tel Aviv to stop such acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio in Istanbul