‘We condemn all killing of civilians’: Saudi FM joins Arab officials at UN Gaza meeting

Ayman Al-Safadi (left), foreign minister of Jordan, Palestinian foreign minister Riyad Al-Maliki (C) and Saudi foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan speak after a meeting of the United Nations Security Council. (AFP)
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Updated 24 October 2023
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‘We condemn all killing of civilians’: Saudi FM joins Arab officials at UN Gaza meeting

  • “We are all here together with unified message that more violence is not the answer,” Prince Faisal said
  • High-level session addressed ongoing developments in Gaza and its surroundings

NEW YORK CITY: Prince Faisal bin Farhan condemned the killing of all civilians on Tuesday on the sidelines of a high-level meeting at the UN Security Council headquarters on the Gaza crisis.

Prince Faisal met with other Arab foreign ministers and offcials to discuss the evolving situation in the Middle East, with particular emphasis on the issue of Palestine.

“We are all here together with a unified message that more violence is not the answer,” Prince Faisal said. 

“That all civilian life is deserving of protection and that includes the lives of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. And that's why we are all here, standing together, calling for an immediate cease-fire, for an immediate lifting of the blockade of Gaza and for a return to the peace process,” he added.

The foreign minister called for a return to a “true, serious approach” to resolving the grievances of the Palestinian people.

“Without the international community standing by its existing commitments to the resolution of the Palestinian situation, we will never see a just peace,” he said.

“Without that, we cannot have true security in our region, we are all on one message on this, and we hope the international community will come together to support those ideals.”

Prince Faisal was asked if he condemned Hamas, to which he answered: “We condemn all killing of civilians.”

Prince Faisal’s participation came at the invitation of Brazil’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mauro Vieira, who currently presides over the Security Council.

The discussion aimed to address the ongoing developments in Gaza and the surrounding region and highlight the importance of achieving peace and stability, in compliance with international laws.

While in New York, Prince Faisal is scheduled to engage in several meetings on the sidelines of the high-level Security Council session.


Saudi scouts unveil conservation program in Riyadh

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Saudi scouts unveil conservation program in Riyadh

  • Scouting association leader emphasizes that environmental scouting is not only a public service activity but also encouragea responsible behavior among young people

RIYADH: The Saudi Arabian Scouts Association (SASA) has launched a new environmental protection program at King Salman Wildlife Park in Banban, north of Riyadh, marking a renewed commitment to conservation and youth engagement in sustainability efforts.

The initiative, unveiled in the presence of scouts, rovers, and scout leaders representing various scouting sectors, brought together partners from relevant government agencies and private-sector organizations, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

The program reflects growing collaboration between civic groups and national institutions to advance environmental protection goals across the Kingdom.

Abdulrahman Al-Mudaris, secretary-general of the association, said the initiative underscores the scouts’ active role in supporting national strategies to preserve natural resources and promote sustainable development. 

The program reflects growing collaboration between civic groups and national institutions to advance environmental protection goals across the Kingdom. (SPA)

He emphasized that environmental scouting is not only a public service activity but also an educational approach designed to instill environmental awareness and encourage responsible behavior among young people.

The launch event featured a series of hands-on activities, including planting seedlings, sowing seeds, and distributing them throughout the park to support vegetation growth and enhance biodiversity.

Founded in 1961, the Saudi Arabian Scouts Association is a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement and operates under the umbrella of the Ministry of Education. 

Over the decades, Saudi scouts have played a visible role in community service, disaster response, and public event organization, including supporting pilgrim services during Hajj and Umrah seasons.