Attack On Gaza 'Heinous', Saudi's Crown Prince Tells Sunak

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, has strongly denounced the attacks on civilians in Gaza as "heinous" and expressed grave concerns about the potential consequences of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. In a meeting with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Prince Mohammed emphasized the need for protection of Gaza's civilian population and urged efforts to de-escalate the situation. The official Saudi Press Agency reported that Prince Mohammed considered targeting civilians in Gaza a "heinous crime" and a "brutal attack." He stressed the importance of preventing the violence from expanding further, highlighting the potential dangers it poses to regional and global security and peace. The conflict in the region has taken a heavy toll, with Hamas militants launching attacks from Gaza into Israel on October 7, resulting in the loss of many lives, including civilians. Israeli officials report the deaths of at least 1,400 people, predominantly civilians. In return, Israel has stated that around 1,500 Hamas fighters were killed in clashes before regaining control. The retaliatory Israeli bombardments in Gaza have led to the deaths of more than 3,700 Palestinians, with the majority being civilians, as per figures from the Hamas-run health ministry. During the meeting, Prime Minister Sunak and Crown Prince Mohammed expressed their shared concern about the tragic loss of innocent lives during the conflict. They also stressed the urgent need for humanitarian access to Gaza to provide essential necessities such as water, food, and medicine. Sunak encouraged the Saudi crown prince to utilize Saudi Arabia's regional leadership to promote stability, both in the immediate term and in the long run. Saudi Arabia, since the outbreak of the conflict, has consistently condemned the displacement of Palestinians from their homes and attacks on defenseless civilians while reiterating its support for the Palestinian cause.