Saudi Prince and French President Discuss Grave Palestine Crisis

In recent developments, several countries including Australia, Belgium, Canada, Malta, Portugal, and the UK have pledged to recognize Palestine this month, adding momentum to the long-standing quest for a Palestinian state.

This move comes amidst escalating tensions in the region, with Israel threatening potential annexation of Gaza City and the West Bank if Western nations follow through with their promises. Israel's government has also vowed to eradicate the group Hamas, a militant organisation that controls Gaza.

The ongoing conflict in Gaza, which began in October 2023, has resulted in the death of over 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the capture of around 250. Health officials and rights groups have accused Israel of starving the population as a weapon of war, and the International Association of Genocide Scholars has declared that Israel's actions in Gaza meet the legal definition of genocide.

Meanwhile, the Saudi Press Agency reported that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reiterated the Kingdom's position for an immediate end to Israel's war on Gaza and the Occupied Territories. The crown prince also condemned any measures aimed at undermining a two-state solution to the situation.

Saudi Arabia and France have led an initiative to recognize a Palestinian state, with France announcing it would formally recognize Palestine during the UN General Assembly later this month. Saudi Arabia and France co-chaired a conference to encourage major world powers to accept Palestinian statehood to ensure long-term peace in the Middle East.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and France's President Emmanuel Macron held discussions on the situation in Palestine on Tuesday. US President Donald Trump held a meeting at the White House last week to discuss the situation, which was attended by Trump's Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law and former adviser, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and a top Israeli official.

The US has expressed interest in taking over the enclave for 10 years while it is transformed into a tourist resort and tech hub, as per a 38-page prospectus circulating within the Trump administration. Trump announced in February that he wants the Palestinian territory to be turned into what he called the "Riviera of the Middle East."

However, Israel has threatened retaliation if Western nations follow through with their promises of recognizing a Palestinian state, potentially annexing Gaza City and the West Bank. This threat has raised concerns among international leaders and human rights organisations about the future of the Palestinian people and the potential for further escalation of violence in the region.