ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday slammed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for attempting to undermine Saudi Arabia’s “unwavering” position on Palestine by calling for the relocation of millions of Palestinians and establishing a Palestinian state in the Kingdom.
Israeli officials have proposed establishing a Palestinian state on the Saudi territory after Netanyahu seemingly joked about the idea during an interview on Israel’s Channel 14 on Feb. 16, according to Reuters.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to reporters next to the US house speaker at the US Capitol in Washington on February 7, 2025. (REUTERS)
Netanyahu’s comments came amid a six-week truce announced on Jan. 19 between Hamas and Israel that ended 15 months of war, involving the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from central Gaza and the return of displaced Palestinians to the north.
Shafqat Ali Khan, a spokesperson for the Pakistani foreign office, said Islamabad “condemns in unequivocal terms” the recent statement by the Israeli prime minister, suggesting the Palestinian people should establish their state in Saudi Arabia.
A drone view, taken on January 19, 2025, shows houses and buildings lying in ruins, following a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip. (REUTERS)
“The remarks by Israel are irresponsible, provocative and thoughtless, and are offending, undermining and disregarding the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination, and an independent state on their own, historical and legitimate territory,” he said at a weekly press briefing.
“Pakistan stands in solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and any attempt to undermine Saudi Arabia’s unwavering position and misrepresentation of its commitment to the Palestinian cause is deeply regrettable.”
Shafqat Ali Khan, spokesperson for the Pakistani foreign office, speaks during a weekly press briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad on February 14, 2025. (Screengrab/PTV)
Pakistan has strong economic, defense and cultural ties with the Kingdom, while Islamabad does not recognize nor have diplomatic relations with Israel and calls for an independent Palestinian state based on “internationally agreed parameters.”
The remarks by the Israeli PM followed a suggestion last month by US President Donald Trump that Palestinians in Gaza should be resettled in Egypt, Jordan, or other countries — a proposal rejected by Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, and other nations apart from being condemned by international rights groups.
Palestinian children look out from the ruins of their house, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip on February 13, 2025. (REUTERS)
Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry responded sharply to Netanyahu’s remarks on Sunday, saying it rejected “such statements that aim to divert attention from the continuous crimes committed by the Israeli occupation against the Palestinian brothers in Gaza.”
This file photo, taken on November 20, 2023, shows Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud attending a meeting related to international efforts for Gaza amid Israel-Hamas war, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China. (REUTERS/File)
Speaking further at the briefing, Khan shared Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar had spoken with foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Türkiye, Malaysia and Iran about summoning an extraordinary session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on the issue.
“During these calls, the deputy prime minister [and] foreign minister termed the proposal to displace the people of Gaza deeply troubling and unjust,” the foreign office spokesman said.
Palestinians walk next to the rubble of destroyed buildings, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, at Jabalia refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip on February 13, 2025. (REUTERS)
“He also conveyed Pakistan’s support for convening of an extraordinary OIC meeting of the foreign ministers to deliberate upon this issue.”
Israel’s war on Gaza has killed more than 45,000 people, including children and women, according to the Palestinian health ministry, with at least more than 100,000 others wounded. The war began after Oct. 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas on Israel.
