Riyadh,
The Palestinian cause holds a significant place in the heart of Saudi Arabia, which demonstrates steadfast support for the rights of the Palestinian people at various international events. This unwavering commitment emanates from the principles established by King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud.
His successors of Kings continued this course, as the Kingdom supported and assisted the Palestinian cause throughout its various stages and across all domains—political, economic, social, and health-related.
The late King Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud had supported the Palestinian cause and people since his tenure as Crown Prince. His support was evident in his visit to Palestine in 1935. After becoming King, his backing extended to political and moral advocacy in international forums, financial assistance, care for the families of martyrs, and the reception of a large number of Palestinians in the Kingdom, granting them residency and employment opportunities.
The Kingdom’s role became particularly prominent during the reign of the late King Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. He attended the first Islamic Summit Conference in Rabat in September 1969, which was convened in response to his call following the burning of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. He sought to elevate the Palestinian cause from an Arab cause to an Islamic one, securing the support of all Muslim nations—an objective he pursued through his advocacy for Islamic solidarity.
The late King Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al Saud played a vital role in strengthening support for the Palestinian cause. He was committed to persuading leaders and dignitaries who visited the Kingdom of the necessity of backing and advocating for the Palestinian cause at both the Arab and Islamic levels.
The late King Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud strongly supported Arab and Islamic causes, guided by the Kingdom’s historical and religious responsibility toward Arabs and Muslims. His support for the Palestinian cause was multi-faceted, encompassing media, financial, educational, health, social, and religious assistance. Politically, King Fahd’s support culminated in the peace initiative he proposed in August 1981, which was endorsed at the 12th Arab Summit in Morocco in 1982.
Continuing the Kingdom’s steadfast support for Palestine, the late King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud proposed the establishment of the Al-Quds intifada fund during the Arab Summit in Cairo in October 2000. With an initial capital of $200 million, the fund was dedicated to supporting the families of Palestinian martyrs. King Abdullah also launched the Al-Aqsa fund, valued at $800 million, to finance projects aimed at preserving the Arab and Islamic identity of Jerusalem. Saudi Arabia pledged to contribute a quarter of the total amount allocated to these funds, alongside its commitment to supporting 1,000 Palestinian families of martyrs and those wounded in the Al-Aqsa intifada.
At the Arab Summit in Beirut in March 2002, the Kingdom reaffirmed its commitment to the Palestinian cause by presenting a practical framework for achieving a comprehensive and just resolution to the Middle East conflict. This proposal, later known as the Arab Peace Initiative, was adopted by Arab leaders and officially approved during the summit.
In line with the continued commitment to the Palestinian cause, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud named the 29th Arab Summit, held in Dhahran in April 2018, the Al-Quds Summit. He also announced that Saudi Arabia was donating $150 million to support Islamic endowments in Jerusalem and $50 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
Saudi Arabia continues its efforts to support the Palestinian cause as part of its Arab and Islamic responsibilities. This was further highlighted by the statement of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, in December 2022, during his presidency of the 43rd session of the Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council in Riyadh. The Crown Prince reiterated that the Gulf states advocate for a fair and lasting solution to the Palestinian cause based on international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative, ensuring the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The Kingdom’s support for Palestine extends beyond political positions, as it remains among the world’s leading donor countries in providing aid to the Palestinian people. According to the Saudi Aid Platform, total Saudi assistance to Palestine has reached $5,358,848,461, spanning 295 projects across various sectors.
Since the beginning of the crisis in the Gaza Strip, the Kingdom, under the guidance of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and HRH the Crown Prince, has provided urgent humanitarian aid and supplies to those affected.
A nationwide fundraising campaign generated over SAR697 million for Palestinians in Gaza. Aid and relief supplies were delivered by air and sea routes, alongside monthly financial support, to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has established its foreign policy towards defending Arab and Islamic causes, making it one of its firm constants.
— SPA
