Saudi Arabia intensifies diplomatic efforts following Israel’s approval of full Gaza occupation plan
Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan holds phone talks with his counterparts from Türkiye, Egypt, France, Germany, and EU, urging international action to stop Israel’s offensive and prevent humanitarian catastrophe
A view of destruction following the Israeli attack on ez-Zeytun neighborhood in Gaza City, Gaza on August 8, 2025.
ISTANBUL
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan launched a series of diplomatic calls on Friday with counterparts from key regional and international powers following Israel’s approval of a plan to fully occupy the Gaza Strip.
According to separate statements from the Saudi Foreign Ministry, Prince Faisal spoke on the phone with Türkiye's Hakan Fidan, Egypt's Badr Abdelatty, France's Jean-Noel Barrot, and Germany's Johann Wadephul.
He also spoke with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.
The minister discussed the deteriorating situation in Gaza and called for an immediate end to Israel's military operations. He emphasized the urgent need to end Israeli forces' "brutal practices" and prevent further humanitarian collapse in the enclave.
Prince Faisal stressed the importance of coordinated international efforts to end the war and alleviate Palestinian suffering, urging all parties to pressure Israel to halt its actions.
Earlier Friday, Saudi Arabia condemned Israel’s decision “in the strongest and most severe terms,” calling it a flagrant violation of international law and a continuation of war crimes and forced displacement.
According to the plan, the Israeli military will begin by occupying Gaza City after displacing its approximately one million Palestinian residents southward, encircling the city, and conducting operations within residential areas, followed by a second phase targeting central Gaza's refugee camps, many of which Israel has destroyed.
According to the UN, 87% of the Gaza Strip is either under Israeli military control or subject to evacuation orders. The UN has warned that any further expansion would bring “catastrophic consequences” for the enclave’s civilian population.
Israel has been facing mounting outrage over its destructive war on Gaza, where more than 61,300 people have been killed since October 2023. The military campaign has devastated the enclave and brought it to the verge of famine.
Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.
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