LONDON: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas about the latest developments and ongoing challenges facing Palestinians and their cause during a phone call on Monday.

They discussed the security and humanitarian developments in the Gaza Strip, and the crown prince condemned crimes committed against the Palestinian people, stressing the need for the international community to address the resulting humanitarian crisis and protect civilians, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Abbas praised Saudi Arabia’s crucial role in garnering international support for recognizing the State of Palestine based on the pre-1967 Middle East War borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, the Wafa news agency reported.

They discussed preparations for the International Peace Conference in New York on Sept. 22, where several countries, including France, the UK, Canada, Australia, and Singapore, are set to recognize Palestinian statehood.

In July, Saudi Arabia and France co-chaired a high-level UN conference to gather support for the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Since Israel began military operations in Gaza after the Oct. 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel by Hamas, more than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed. Israeli settler activity in the West Bank, meanwhile, has also been condemned by members of the international community, with more countries moving away from the stance that Palestinian statehood could only be achieved through a negotiated peace with Israel.

The crown prince and the Palestinian president also reaffirmed their commitment to ongoing joint coordination and enhanced Arab and international solidarity with the Palestinian people, the Wafa agency added.