Civil disobedience, not military option to fight occupation: Saudi prince
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New Delhi: Saudi Arabia prince Turki Al Faisal has taken on Israel and Hamas saying there are "no heroes in this conflict, only victims", NDTV reported.
The country’s former intelligence chief was speaking at a US university when he cited examples from history including that of India’s on how civil disobedience movement could resist occupation.
‘I do not support the military option in Palestine. I prefer the other option: civil insurrection and disobedience. It brought down the British empire in India and the Soviet empire in eastern Europe,’ he was quoted as saying.
The 78-year-old added that occupied people have a right to resist the aggression even militarily.
He pointed out that Israel’s overwhelming military might and the devastation it is causing in Gaza.
Faisal took on Hamas for October 7 attack, saying ‘I categorically condemn Hamas' targeting of civilian targets of any age or gender as it is accused of. Such targeting belies Hamas' claims to an Islamic identity.’
Criticising Hamas for what he said ‘gifting the high moral ground to an Israeli government that is universally shunned", adding, “I condemn Hamas for giving this awful government the excuse to ethnically cleanse Gaza of its citizens and bombing them to oblivion.’
The Saudi prince accused Hamas of sabotaging Saudi Arabia's attempts for peaceful resolution to the Palestine issue.
Questioning Israel for its counterstrikes targeting innocent civilians, the Saudi prince said ‘Two wrongs don’t make a right’.
Taking on US media for saying Hamas’ ‘ unprovoked attack’, Faisal asked what more provocation was needed than ‘what Israel has done to the Palestinian people for three-quarters of a century?"
Condemning what he said ‘Israel’s stealing of Palestinian lands’, he added ‘ this bloodletting must stop’ blaming Israel for targeted killings of Palestinians.
The Saudi prince said Western politicians did not even ‘ express sorrow’ when Palestinians were killed by Israelis but chose to ‘shedding tears’ as Israelis are killed.
