In a momentous address during the joint summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), has called for the establishment of a Palestinian state based on the borders that existed in 1967.
Addressing the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, Mohammed bin Salman expressed deep concern over the escalating violence and the dire consequences borne by innocent civilians in Gaza. The Crown Prince firmly rejected the targeting of civilians and emphasized the paramount importance of adhering to international humanitarian law. He underscored the necessity to halt military operations affecting civilians and vital infrastructure, ultimately disrupting their daily lives.
“The conditions must be created for the return of stability and the achievement of lasting peace that will ensure a just solution to establish a Palestinian state within 1967 borders in order to achieve security and prosperity for all,” declared MBS.
It’s worth noting that in 2017, Hamas, in a policy document, floated the idea of accepting a Palestinian state within the territories occupied by Israel in the six-day war of 1967. However, Israel has repeatedly rejected this proposition, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterating that Israel would never withdraw to its 1967 borders.
