Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia strongly condemned the recent Israeli statements with regard to the Philadelphi Corridor, a narrow band along Gaza’s border with Egypt.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed the Kingdom’s strong condemnation and denunciation of the Israeli statements regarding the Philadelphi Corridor, and the futile attempts to justify the continued Israeli violations of international laws and norms. In a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency, the ministry vowed its solidarity and support for Egypt in the face of these Israeli allegations.

Saudi Arabia warned of the consequences of these provocative statements, and their repercussions in undermining the mediation efforts being undertaken by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States of America, to reach a permanent ceasefire.

The ministry stated that such provocative statements would increase the severity of the dangerous escalation witnessed by the region. It also emphasized the importance of putting an end to the suffering of the Palestinian people, and the necessity of concerted international efforts to enable them to exercise their inherent right to self-determination, and establish their independent state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The ministry statement comes in the wake of the recent statement of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the Philadelphi Corridor will be under the control of Israel in any ceasefire deal.