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Riyadh Talks on Gaza
Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani met Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah Al Saud in Riyadh on Wednesday to discuss bilateral cooperation and regional developments, including developments in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories.
“Developments in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories were also discussed.”
The two ministers stressed the importance of continued coordination and consultation between the two countries and closer alignment on current regional developments, while also reaffirming support for resolving disputes through diplomatic means to ease tensions and promote dialogue.
They renewed their condemnation of Israel’s declared rejection of the roadmap for completing the implementation of US President Donald Trump’s comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict, endorsed by UN Security Council Resolution 2803, and of Israel’s rejection of the establishment of a Palestinian state.
In parallel, the meeting emphasized ensuring the security and safety of maritime navigation, particularly in the Arabian Gulf and the Red Sea, to safeguard international trade and vital maritime routes.
Condemnations and Quotes
The Muslim World League (MWL) strongly condemned Israel’s rejection of the Road Map for implementing US President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan, endorsed by UN Security Council Resolution 2803, and its rejection of Palestinian statehood, according to a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency.
MWL Secretary-General and Chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Al-Issa denounced the rejection as a continuation of Israel’s policies of violating international laws and UN resolutions, and he said there was an urgent need to compel Israel to fully comply with the commitments in Trump’s Comprehensive Plan and its accompanying Road Map.
In Riyadh, Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister stated on X after the meeting that “our security and regional security are indivisible,” adding, “We must prioritize common public interest that strengthens security and stability in the region.”
The Qatari and Saudi foreign ministers also reiterated their condemnation of Israel’s official rejection of the roadmap aimed at completing the implementation of Trump’s plan to end the Gaza conflict, supported by UN Security Council Resolution 2803, and Israel’s rejection of establishing a Palestinian state.
Escalation, Mediation, and Risk
The Anadolu Ajansı account of the Riyadh meeting said the talks followed a major Israeli escalation in the Gaza Strip, as earlier on Wednesday nine Palestinians, including police officers, were killed in an Israeli airstrike that targeted a police headquarters in downtown Gaza.
“nine Palestinians, including police officers, were killed in an Israeli airstrike”
It also cited the “Peace Council,” led by U.S. President Trump, announcing on July 31 the reaching of a roadmap for implementing the next phases of a ceasefire that Hamas subsequently accepted and urged Israel to adhere to, while Anadolu Ajansı said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on August 9 that he rejected these understandings.
Within the same reporting, the piece described the roadmap as calling for disarming Hamas and a gradual and parallel Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, envisioning transferring Gaza’s administration to a technocratic Palestinian committee, deploying an international stabilization force, and putting weapons under the responsibility of the Gaza Governance Committee under international oversight.
Anadolu Ajansı further said the visit came amid regional tensions tied to the lack of a final agreement on a halt to the war between Washington and Tehran, which began in late February and has not been halted by a memorandum of understanding in June, and it added that Doha is mediating with Pakistan to reach a final agreement between Washington and Tehran.
