Hamas condemns Netanyahu's ‘Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia’ proposal

The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement has condemned the suggestion by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that a Palestinian state could be established in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Quds Press has reported.

“We consider the statements made by Netanyahu to be hostile towards the Kingdom and our Palestinian people, reflecting a supremacist approach and a colonial mentality that ignores the historical rights of the rightful owners of the land [of Palestine],” said Hamas. “We praise the Saudi position rejecting these irresponsible statements, which lack the minimum level of diplomatic norms.”

Hamas expressed its appreciation of the Kingdom’s consistent stance against any plans aimed at displacing the Palestinian people, and its ongoing support for their “just cause and legitimate right” to establish an independent state on their own land.

“We call for a unified Arab position to confront these colonial statements that reflect the expansionist ambitions of the occupation regime in our Arab region, and the need to take effective steps to force it to stop its ongoing aggression against our people and nation,” added Hamas.

Netanyahu made his comment in an interview with Israel’s Channel 14 on Friday. “The Saudis,” he said, “can create a Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia; they have a lot of land over there.”

On a related issue, the announcement by US President Donald Trump that the US will “take over” the Gaza Strip after resettling the Palestinians, has sparked widespread condemnation around the world.

Several countries, led by the permanent members of the UN Security Council, with the exception of the US, expressed their “rejection of any displacement of Palestinians outside their land,” and called for “working to embody the two-state solution and giving the Palestinians the opportunity to live in their state.”

These statements were made after the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip came into effect on the 19 January. It consists of three phases, each lasting 42 days. Negotiations are taking place during the first phase, regarding the second and third, with the mediation of Egypt and Qatar and the support of the US.

On Saturday, the occupation forces released 183 prisoners as part of the fifth batch of the exchange deal, including 18 prisoners sentenced to life, 54 prisoners with lengthy sentences, and 111 prisoners from the Gaza Strip who were arrested since 7 October, 2023.

In total, so far 21 captives held by the resistance have been exchanged for 586 Palestinian prisoners, dozens of whom were exiled abroad.

READ: Jordan condemns Netanyahu’s ‘incendiary calls’ for establishing Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia