Saudi Crown Prince, Palestinian president coordinate ahead of New York Peace Conference
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Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas held a phone call on Monday to discuss the latest security and humanitarian developments in the Gaza Strip and the broader Palestinian cause, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
The crown prince condemned crimes against the Palestinian people and stressed the need for the international community to address the humanitarian crisis and protect civilians.
Abbas praised Saudi Arabia’s role in rallying global support for recognizing a Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, the Wafa news agency reported.
The leaders also reviewed preparations for the International Peace Conference in New York on Sept. 22, where countries including France, the UK, Canada, Australia and Singapore are expected to formally recognize Palestinian statehood. In July, Saudi Arabia and France co-chaired a high-level UN conference to mobilize support for the same cause.
Since Israel launched military operations in Gaza following the Oct. 7, 2023 attack, more than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza health officials. Israeli settler activity in the West Bank has also drawn widespread condemnation, with growing international backing for Palestinian statehood outside the framework of direct negotiations with Israel.