Saudi Arabia has once again emphasised its strong support for the Palestinian cause, making it clear that it will not normalise relations with Israel unless a sovereign Palestinian state is established.

In a statement released on 5 February, the Saudi Foreign Ministry reaffirmed the kingdom's long-standing position, declaring it "unalterable" despite claims by former U.S. President Donald Trump that Saudi Arabia no longer insisted on the creation of a Palestinian state for normalisation with Israel.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has consistently highlighted this stance, most recently in his address at the opening of the ninth session of the Shura Council in September 2024. During the Arab-Islamic Summit held in Riyadh in November 2024, he once again reiterated the kingdom's commitment to the establishment of a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders and the cessation of Israel's occupation.

He further called for the international community to extend recognition to Palestine and grant it full membership in the United Nations, in line with the resolutions adopted by the General Assembly.

The Foreign Ministry stressed that this position is non-negotiable, asserting that peace can never be achieved without the recognition of Palestinian rights, a message that has been conveyed to successive U.S. administrations. It also condemned Israeli actions that violate Palestinian rights, such as illegal settlement expansion, land annexation, and the forcible displacement of Palestinians.

In addition, the Saudi government urged the international community to take concrete steps to alleviate the worsening humanitarian situation faced by Palestinians, who continue to display remarkable resilience in their struggle for their land and rights.

This statement comes in contrast to the 2020 Abraham Accords, which saw the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco normalise relations with Israel under U.S. mediation. Efforts by the United States to bring Saudi Arabia into the fold stalled following the Israeli offensive in Gaza in October 2023, which resulted in the deaths of over 61,000 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, before a ceasefire was reached on 19 January.