Riyadh: Israel's demand that Palestinians evacuate Gaza was sharply criticised by Saudi Arabia, which also denounced the ongoing attacks on "defenceless civilians," the country's foreign ministry stated on Friday.
Over 1.1 million Palestinians in Gaza City were given a 24-hour notice to relocate South by the Israeli military.
It had gathered tanks close to the Gaza Strip border in anticipation of a planned ground assault.
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia affirms its categorical rejection of calls for the forced displacement of the Palestinian people from Gaza, and its condemnation of the continued targeting of defenceless civilians there,” a statement from the Foreign Ministry said, Arab News reported.
“(The international community) must provide the needed relief and medical needs for the people of Gaza, especially since deprivation of basic necessities for a decent life violates international humanitarian law,” the statement added.
The ministry issued a warning, saying that failure to do so would make the situation worse and the suffering of the people in the region worse.
In line with UN Security Council resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative, the Kingdom also demanded that Israel lift its siege of Gaza, evacuate injured civilians, and advance the peace process between Palestinians and Israelis.
Additionally, the Muslim World League declared on Friday that it rejected and denounced "in the strongest terms" Israeli calls for the forcible displacement of Palestinians and the ongoing bombing of civilians in Gaza.