On Wednesday, Saudi Arabia restated that it will not establish diplomatic ties with Israel unless a Palestinian state is established. This statement came after US President Donald Trump claimed that Saudi Arabia had not set this condition.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has made the Kingdom's position "clear and explicit," leaving no space for interpretation, according to a statement from the Saudi foreign ministry. The ministry went on to say that Saudi Arabia views its stance on the matter as non-negotiable and is against any attempt to force Palestinians off their land. "His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister clearly and unequivocally reaffirmed this stance during his speech at the opening of the first session of the ninth term of the Shura Council on September 18, 2024. His Royal Highness emphasised that Saudi Arabia will continue its relentless efforts to establish an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, and will not establish diplomatic relations with Israel without that," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia said.

The ministry further said that at the exceptional Arab-Islamic Summit in Riyadh in November 2024, the Crown Prince reaffirmed this stance. "His Royal Highness also reiterated this firm position during the extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit held in Riyadh on November 11, 2024. He stressed the continuation of efforts to establish a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, demanding an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands. His Royal Highness also urged more peace-loving countries to recognise the State of Palestine, and emphasised the importance of mobilising the international community to support the Palestinian people's rights, as expressed in United Nations General Assembly resolutions, recognising Palestine's eligibility for full UN membership," the statement read.  

During his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump had earlier claimed that Saudi Arabia had not demanded the establishment of a Palestinian state. The US president also announced that after the Palestinians were relocated, Washington would assume charge of Gaza and oversee its reconstruction. He asserted that the project would turn the enclave into "the Riviera of the Middle East" during a joint news conference with Netanyahu. US President Donald Trump revealed a unique plan for the US to take control of Gaza, aiming to rebuild the region through economic growth. According to Al Jazeera, Trump stated that his administration would oversee reconstruction efforts, focusing on creating jobs and housing in the war-affected area. This move marks a significant shift from the usual US policy.

“The US will take over the Gaza Strip and we will do a job with it, too. We’ll own it,” he stated at the White House after meeting with Netanyahu. Trump also promised to remove unexploded ordnance, clean rubble, and remove any security hazards in the area. He also proposed that the United States will continue to play a long-term role in the governance of Gaza. “This was not a decision made lightly. Everybody I’ve spoken to loves the idea of the United States owning that piece of land, developing and creating thousands of jobs with something that will be magnificent,” Trump noted. Although he didn’t give specific details about how the plan would be carried out, Trump showed hope that displaced Palestinians could move to other countries that are open to accepting them. He also suggested that some Palestinians might stay in Gaza.

The US president mentioned that Gaza could become a place for "the world's people." “I think you will make that into an international, unbelievable place. I think the potential in the Gaza Strip is unbelievable. And I think the entire world – representatives from all over the world will be now – Palestinians also, Palestinians will live there,” he continued.  “Many people will live there," he added. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu supported Trump's proposal, saying it could change the future of the region. Speaking alongside Trump at the White House, Netanyahu said, “It’s worth paying attention to this… something that could change history.”